Netizens have called for greater caution regarding ‘men of God’ after Walter Chahwanda, a Zimbabwean pastor based in the United Kingdom, was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment for sexually assaulting multiple girls aged 14 and 17.

Reports noted that the incident occurred between 2017 and 2020 as authorities alleged that Mr Chahwanda carried out the illegal acts on TikTok and Snapchat, where he groomed his victims, including one who was below 14 years old at the time. 

Mr Chahwanda was sentenced to nine years in custody and five on extended licence by the Liverpool Crown Court last week Friday, with Judge David Swinnerton stating that the founder of the Sound of Dominion ministry damaged the lives of his victims. 

During his trial, the court heard that some of the 34-year-old’s victims were located as far as Manchester, South Yorkshire, East Midlands and Kent and he distributed intimate videos of himself to the children through social media. 

Police said that Mr Chahwanda admitted to having sexualised conversations on one of his social media accounts during interrogation. 

Expectedly, the story has generated widespread condemnation of Mr Chahwanda’s actions among commentators online. Many warned that the public should be wary of so-called pastors.

On X, user @Benjigroov said “A lot of these pastors have access to people, and when they see folks begging and asking for prayers, it somehow turns them on sexually. You’ll be surprised at how dark and dirty their minds can get.”

Username AyeloFayowole also took the same position, commenting “This is a man who used God’s name to cover evil. That’s the darkest kind of betrayal, spiritual manipulation layered on top of physical abuse.”

A third X user with the name @mr_chiboi welcomed the judgement and called for stricter measures to prevent the vulnerability of children to grooming on social media, stating “Justice served, but the real focus has to be on prevention.”

He added, “Social media makes grooming disturbingly easy, and this case highlights how urgently we need stricter safeguards, education for kids, and accountability for adults in positions of trust. Victims deserve protection, not just punishment after the fact.”

Most opinions were the same on Instagram as @xo_anabela_ stated “Not sending my daughter to church! We have Jesus and a brand new Bible at home.”

@catyeboah28 said “You see this wickedness? Some of these “churches” will have demons masquerading as a so-called “man of God”. I hope his fellow inmates deal with him.”