Last week, government gave greenlight to churches to reopen
only for members who are fully vaccinated, but a countrywide survey conducted
by NewsDay yesterday showed that most traditional churches like the Roman
Catholic, Anglican and Reformed Church in Zimbabwe, among others, did not
conduct services.
Members of the clergy, who spoke to NewsDay, said their
church members stayed at home since most of them had not been fully vaccinated,
while others were still making preparations for full compliance with government
regulations.
However, in defiance of government regulations, Apostolic
sects yesterday conducted services in the open throughout the country. Their
members, including children, could be seen gathered at various shrines without
exercising social distancing or sanitising their hands.
NewsDay also observed that the Apostolic sect congregants
were not being asked to produce vaccination cards as they entered their
shrines.
Madzibaba Shepherd Nzira of Zvakazarurwa Zvevapostori
Church told NewsDay that his followers failed to come to church because they
were not vaccinated. “We formed WhatsApp groups where people are seeking
spiritual healing,” Nzira said.
However, congregants of Johane Masowe WechiShanu WeAfrica
Church attended a service at their shrine called “Pamatank” in Mutare.
Leader of the church, Andby Makururu said he had approached
the government for his church members to be vaccinated.
“We have since approached government to facilitate
vaccination of our members. The programme will begin next week in Zimunya,” Makururu
said.
At the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries led by
Walter Magaya which usually attracts thousands of congregants, there were no
worshippers when the NewsDay crew visited the place.
In Bulawayo, most churches were also closed, while a few
that opened their doors for congregants had a handful in attendance.
At Holiness Apostolic Church in Entumbane, only three
members attended the church service, a sign that most church members were not
vaccinated.
At Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Sakubva, Mutare,
congregants, who did not have vaccination cards, were turned away.
A Roman Catholic priest, who refused to be named, told this
paper that most of the congregants were unlikely to have been fully vaccinated.
“We are yet to receive an internal communication within the
church on how we have to conduct the services. But indications are that the
majority of our congregants are not vaccinated. Moreover, youths and children
constitute a significant number of our members, but they are not eligible for
vaccination. As a result, even if we are to conduct full-fledged services, the
gatherings will remain low as churches had been closed for a long time,” the
priest said.
Joe Daniels, a church leader with Gateway, a pentecostal
church in Mutare said they failed to open their doors to congregants because
they were still in the process of ensuring the premises are fumigated and
adhere to other safety protocols.
Founder of the Goodness and Mercy Ministries, Tapiwa Freddy
said they would resume sit-ins next weekend.
“We have been working on the logistics this weekend with
the hope of resuming sit-in services next Sunday. As of today [yesterday], we
are continuing with our online services,” Freddy said.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi
yesterday said he would issue a statement on compliance with the COVID-19
measures by churches today.
“Today is still Sunday and the day is not yet over. I will issue a statement on what transpired
at churches tomorrow (today),” Nyathi said.
On Friday, Nyathi issued a stern warning to churches that
breach the Cabinet directive, saying the police will be in full force assisting
health workers to enforce compliance.
Opposition Multi-Racial Christian Democrats leader Mathias
Guchutu said the new measures imposed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s
government implied that people should to fear the coronavirus more than God as
they were being stopped from worshipping.
“The church has been loyal to government ever since the
pandemic started and has been religiously adhering to the guidelines, but these
new measures will be difficult to implement,” Guchuchu told NewsDay.
“Several pastors haven’t yet received their jabs while
thousands of congregants are still struggling to get them. Given the small
proportion of the citizens who have been vaccinated, it means in practical
terms, churches have not been allowed to reopen. Obviously, not all that have been vaccinated
will be attending the services.”
Several church organisations which include the Zimbabwe
Council of Churches, Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, Evangelical
Fellowship of Zimbabwe and the Union for Development of Apostolic and Zionist
Churches have raised concern over the ability of health workers to monitor
adherence to the new regulations at churches since the health sector was
experiencing staff shortages.
They also said vaccine shortages meant that imposing the
mandatory vaccination rule on churches was insincere.
As of Saturday, only 1 198 381 people had been fully
vaccinated throughout the country. Zimbabwe
is targeting to vaccinate 60% of its population (approximately 10 million) to
achieve herd immunity. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment