Shanzu Court to Decide on Detention Extension for Mackenzie and Co-Accused

The Shanzu Court is set to make a pivotal decision on Thursday, August 10, regarding the potential extension of detention for cult leader Paul Mackenzie and 28 co-accused individuals. These suspects are facing legal action related to their involvement in the Shakahola Cult.

Upon arrival at the Shanzu Law Courts, the 33 accused members of the cult have already spent 90 days in custody.

The Director of Public Prosecutions applied on August 2 for an extension of their detention period, seeking an additional seven weeks to allow the police to conclude their investigation.

Paul Mackenzie, a televangelist associated with the Good News International church and a central figure in the cult, alleges that he has been subjected to torture during his time in jail. He informed the court that he has been confined to a dark room and his requests to be allowed outdoors for some sunlight had been ignored.

Expressing his distress, Mackenzie stated, “I have gone for two days without eating and taking a bath because I have been locked 24/7 in a dark room. The authorities are the ones directing that I am treated this way, so I wonder who will save me?”

He even went as far as to request the government to end his life rather than continue subjecting him to the ordeal he is facing in jail.

He appealed to the court for help, saying, “If you are tired of us and don’t want to accord us basic dignity you might as well kill us and throw our bodies in River Yala. After all, we are all going to die someday. This court needs to help me because I am suffering.”

The situation surrounding the cult has been grim, with more than 425 confirmed deaths and an additional 600 individuals still reported as missing, reflecting the scale of the suspected cult’s impact.

By Karim Rajan