CHURCHES, mostly Apostolic sect groups continue to meet for
church services in Bulawayo in violation of Covid-19 national lockdown
regulations and police yesterday swooped on one of the religious sects.
A Chronicle news crew yesterday drove around the city’s
western suburbs and observed that churches of the Apostolic Faith sect were
still conducting services at their shrines.
In all areas visited by the news crew, members were not
observing social distancing and they were also not wearing masks. Social
distancing is one of the measures recommended for curbing the spread of
Covid-19.
The churches were holding their services under trees and on
hilltops. Mr Jameson Musengi of Healing Apostolic Faith Church in Njube said
they were only conducting prayer sessions.
“We are aware of the ban on church gatherings and I want to
make it clear that we are not here to conduct a church service. We are actually
here to pray then we disperse because it is important with or without Covid-19
to dedicate ourselves to God through prayer,” said Mr Musengi.
However, the news crew observed that there was a proper
church service which was being conducted.
Ms Sibongile Sibanda, an elder at Kuera Apostolic Faith
Church in Nkulumane 12 suburb also said they were only meeting for prayer
purposes.
“Our leader was caught in the South African lockdown and
therefore as members we decided to continue gathering at our shrine for
prayers. We are not conducting sermons but simply praying for the wellbeing of
our families and the generality of mankind,” she said.
Johane Masowe weChishanu Church members gather at their
shrine in New Magwegwe suburb yesterday. Some churches continue to meet for
services in violation of Covid-19 national lockdown regulations
Chronicle also visited another Apostolic Faith sect in New
Magwegwe suburb where there was a handful of worshippers gathered under a tree
for a church service.
Yesterday, police raided Madzibaba Emmanuel Mutumwa of
Johane Masowe weChishanu and his members at their Selbourne Park shrine in
Bulawayo following a tip off.
The number of arrested congregants was not immediately
available last night.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said
police yesterday dispersed a group of Apostolic sect worshippers who were
conducting an illegal church service in Selbourne Park suburb.
“This morning (yesterday) we received a tip off from members
of the public that some members of an Apostolic sect had gathered for a church
service in Selbourne Park suburb and we immediately deployed our officers to
their place of worship. We also dispersed some women who were playing soccer at
Mzilikazi Youth Centre this morning (yesterday) and as police we don’t condone
such kind of behaviour. People should comply with Government Covid-19 lockdown
regulations,” he said.
Insp Ncube said people who violate national lockdown
regulations risk being arrested.
“It is quite disturbing to note that we have some rogue
elements who are not taking Covid-19 seriously. They only comply when there are
police officers in the vicinity which should not be the case because complying
with regulatons is not meant to please the police but to curb the spread of
Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Since Government announced the ban on church gatherings as
part of the Covid-19 lockdown regulations, most churches resorted to conducting
virtual services.
Some congregants have also resorted to opening groups for
services and using the cheaper WhatsApp platform.
To promote social distancing and minimise the spread of the
virus, some congregants are worshipping privately in their homes with the
necessary support in the form of livestreaming, downloading or printed worship
packages and sermons, which are availed to members through their pastors.
Under the lockdown regulations, all public gatherings are
banned, except for funerals where not more than 50 people are allowed to
attend. Chronicle
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