A HARVEST House International Church Reverend, Tani Tuturu, has been found hanged in his office at the church’s rented premises in Gweru allegedly over a $15,000 debt.
Rev Tuturu, 44, who had over 42 pastors under his watch in the church which has followers all over the world, was found dead at around 4PM on Monday by a church member who had gone for prayers.A popular man of the cloth in Gweru, Rev Tuturu gave the opening prayer during the official opening of the Gweru High Court circuit in January and has written several Christian books including one titled, I have chosen to be great which was released in August 2013.
Midlands Police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko said: “I can confirm that we are investigating a sudden death case where a male adult Tani Tuturu was found dead hanging from a roof truss. His body was found at around 4PM on Monday by a church member.
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| Harvest House Reverend Tuturu Found Hanged |
At Rev Tuturu’s house at number 38 Kopje, Gweru, friends and fellow congregants were consoling his family. His body was still at a local funeral parlour. Rev Tuturu’s elder brother, Chemai Tuturu, who is also a reverend in the church, could not shed light on the circumstances leading to his sibling’s death.
“I was in Harare when my brother committed suicide. I can’t say much about the whole incident because as a family we’re all shocked with my brother’s untimely death. I’m yet to be furnished with full details on how he committed suicide,” said Rev Tuturu.
A church member who spoke on condition of anonymity said Rev Tuturu’s church in Gweru was in arrears for rentals amounting to $15,000, even though members make contributions. The source said the dire situation was worsened by pressure coming from other church members after his former congregant who later became a pastor managed to raise $100,000 after hosting a conference.
“It seems like personal ego was also at play. The pastor was under pressure because other branches of the church were doing well while he was failing to raise $15,000 to settle his church’s debts,” said the church member.
He said on Monday, Rev Tuturu left home and proceeded to the church. The source said the Rev’s wife had travelled to Harare. “He was later found dead by a congregant hanging from the roof trusses in his office. The congregant had gone to church for prayers,” said the source.
