Paul Mackenzie Asks Court to Show Mercy Ahead of Shakahola Sentencing

File Image of Shakahola cult leader Paul Mackenzie

Shakahola cult leader Paul Mackenzie has pleaded for leniency ahead of his sentencing over the deaths linked to the tragedy.

He told the court that he and his co-accused had also suffered losses, including losing property and children.

Mackenzie made the plea before Justice Diana Kavedza ahead of Friday’s sentencing.

He was convicted over the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children, in Shakahola Forest between January 2021 and September 2023.

Through his lawyer, Mackenzie asked the court to consider their personal circumstances when determining their punishment.

"In a way, we lost property and our children. Something we regret, and we pray that this court has mercy and takes into account before passing a harsh sentence on us," he pleaded.

The defence team, representing Mackenzie and his 28 co-accused, acknowledged the scale of the tragedy.

The lawyers said their mitigation was not intended to minimise victims’ suffering or suggest their losses could be reversed.

Instead, they urged the judge to consider the convicts’ prison conduct, rehabilitation efforts and demonstrated remorse.

The defence said the accused had remained in custody since 2023 and participated in religious programmes and other training initiatives.

They highlighted a deradicalisation programme as evidence of their willingness to abandon former beliefs and reintegrate into society.

The lawyers also argued that the convicts’ religious outlook had changed during their imprisonment.

They asked the court to consider time already spent in custody when determining appropriate sentences.

The defence proposed prison terms not exceeding 10 years, with custody periods deducted from the sentences.

It also cited the impact of prolonged imprisonment on the convicts’ families as a mitigating factor.

Prosecution Seeks Maximum Punishment

The prosecution urged the court to impose stiff penalties reflecting the seriousness of the offences.

It also called for structured rehabilitation and disengagement programmes for the convicts.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Jami Yamina said all convicts except Enos Amanya Ngala continued denying the charges.

He argued that their position demonstrated a lack of remorse and raised concerns about their attachment to the teachings.

"Essentially, the convicts expressed no remorse or regret on their part. It is also absurd that they persist with the adherence to the teachings that caused the deaths," Yamina submitted.

The prosecution is seeking the death penalty for Mackenzie, citing the scale and nature of the crimes.

It asked the court to impose life imprisonment if the death penalty is considered inappropriate.

For the remaining convicts, prosecutors are seeking life sentences.

The sentencing marks another stage in the Shakahola tragedy case, involving hundreds of reported deaths.

Victims reportedly followed teachings that they would meet Jesus.