Eleven people were killed in a stampede following an early morning religious service on Friday in a Zimbabwe sports stadium, reports the BBC.

Four people died in the Mbizo Stadium, which is located in the town of Kwekwe, while seven others were pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, according to police commander Shadreck Mubaiwa. A pregnant woman and three children were among the dead.

Worshippers gathered at the stadium to hear self-proclaimed "Servant of God Prophet" Walter Magaya preach during a religious service. When Magaya finished his service, thousands of worshippers hurried to leave, but the exact cause of the stampede is not known.

Eyewitnesses have accused the police of blocking most stadium exits and firing tear gas as panicked people tried to leave through the only open exit.

Police have denied firing tear gas.

H-Metro reports that Magaya had already left the venue when the stampede occurred. He returned to the stadium upon learning of the stampede.

"This was our event, and as a church we have to take the blame for the tragedy," Magaya told H-Metro. "It is still too early to say what caused the stampede, but the fact that the stampede took place at the venue means that part of our system failed to function."

Magaya is the head of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries and part of a new breed of Zimbabwe preachers who claim to use miracles to help people achieve their dreams, cure ailments and cast out demons.

According to the televangelist's Facebook page, the ministries was founded in 2012 and is a Bible-based community of believers who gather together to worship the Lord. It is headquartered in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Magaya's weekend church services are attended by thousands around southern Africa.