The trial of eight women linked to Independent End Time Message founder, Robert Martin Gumbura, kicked off at the Harare Magistrates Court yesterday.

The eight face allegations of contravening the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act after they were allegedly caught in possession of pornographic materials.

The trial was held before Magistrate Vakai Chikwekwe.

The eight women; Amadeus Mutakwa (32), Pamela Kandawire (27), Veronica Mbanga (27), Tendai Kwatara (34) , Moreblessing Takawira (35), Runyararo Musvosvi (27), Choice Negaye (32) and Rutendo Mandiya (28) were granted $300 bail each in December by the Harare Magistrates Court.

Their arrest came after police received reports of child abuse at number 6 Helena Close, Malborough.

Acting on the tip off, police raided the residence and recovered 16 pornographic DVDs and 57 photographs of the eight women posing nude.

State witness, Assistant Inspector Tichaona David Sengwe identified three of the women whose pictures were brought in court as exhibit.

The eight however denied the charges saying it was the work of adversaries bent on tarnishing Gumbura’s name.

The defence counsel alleged that police failed to execute their duty in a diligent manner as some of the pictures do not reflect faces of the accused persons.

Gumbura himself is facing nine counts of rape for allegedly raping six female congregates of his church.

Gumbura however denies the charges saying he had consensual sex with the women from his church.