Paul Mackenzie, the self-proclaimed doomsday preacher, has asked for leniency and mercy from the court ahead of his sentencing on Friday. Mackenzie was convicted of murdering 190 children and an adult at Shakahola Forest between January 2021 and September 2023. He portrayed himself and his 28 co-accused as victims of the tragedy, which resulted in 429 deaths. Mackenzie pleaded for mercy through his lawyer, stating that they lost property and children, and prayed for a lenient sentence.
The defence team, representing Mackenzie and his co-accused, urged the court to consider their personal circumstances and conduct in custody. They argued that sentencing should allow room for rehabilitation, acknowledging the scale of loss as a tragedy of immeasurable proportions. The defence submitted that the convicts had attended religious programmes and training while in custody, including a deradicalisation programme in August 2025. They proposed prison terms of no more than 10 years, taking into account the time already spent in custody.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Jami Yamina, sought a death penalty for Mackenzie and life sentences for the other convicts. Yamina stated that the convicts, except Enos Amanya Ngala, had maintained their innocence and denied responsibility for the crimes. The State argued that the sentences should reflect the gravity of the offences and proposed structured rehabilitation and disengagement programmes. For Ngala, who admitted participating in the murders, the prosecution proposed an 11-year prison term.
The defence team highlighted that all 28 convicts were first offenders, presenting police clearance certificates to support their claim. They urged the court to impose individualised sentences based on each person's role and level of responsibility. The impact of imprisonment on their families was also raised as a mitigating factor, with some convicts having children, spouses, and elderly parents who depended on them.
Mackenzie invoked Article 28 of the Constitution, which guarantees human dignity, arguing that the right continues to apply after conviction. The defence cited Section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, requiring courts to consider time spent in custody when passing sentence. They proposed deducting the period already served when determining the effective sentence.
The prosecution warned that sentences without effective disengagement and rehabilitation would leave the convicts at risk and difficult to manage. The State urged the court to balance retribution, deterrence, public protection, denunciation of crime, restorative justice, and rehabilitation. They also proposed grouping the victims by age: children up to seven years, those aged between eight and 14, and minors aged between 15 and 18.
The court, led by Justice Diana Kavedza, will determine the sentences for Mackenzie and his co-accused. The final decision will consider the pleas for mercy, the prosecution's call for severe sentences, and the defence's arguments for rehabilitation and leniency. The case has drawn significant attention due to the scale of the tragedy and the severity of the crimes committed.
Key points
- The State is seeking a death penalty for Paul Mackenzie and life sentences for his 27 co-accused.
- The defence team has proposed prison terms of no more than 10 years for the convicts.
- The court will consider the convicts' personal circumstances, conduct in custody, and the impact of imprisonment on their families when determining their sentences.
