(Churches And Clergy Making Headlines This Past Week)
August 21st, 2021
*Stop Intimidating Us - Church Leader Tells Jamwanda*
State apologist and faceless character one 'Jamwanda' last week laid into Rev Dr. Kenneth Mtata over a statement on the partial opening of Churches by the Zimbabwe Heads Of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD).
But ecumenist Dr. Tinashe Gumbo responded saying Jamwanda was up to smear Rev Mtata on trumped up and blantant falsehoods.
Jamwanda had said Rev Mtata was hypocritical in influencing the Church against vaccines and that he had political ambitions, allegations he could not prove.
Said Dr. Gumbo:
"For the record, after he had been vaccinated, Rev Mtata encouraged Church leaders to follow suit voluntarily. Indeed, the public will be reminded of Rev Mtata’s public utterances on his personal and even official ZCC twitter handles, encouraging the public (beyond the Church) to be vaccinated. He presided over a number of conferences and seminars where he raised awareness regarding the need to give vaccination exercise a chance. Moreover, after issuance of the latest ZHOCD statement, Rev Mtata went public on both print and electronic media to explain the Church’s communication. Even the Vice Chairperson of ZHOCD, Bishop Muparutsa appeared on our television during news time explaining the Church's statement on 12 August. Records will certainly prove Jamwanda wrong on his or "her" accusation.
To single out Rev Mtata as the sole composer of the ZHOCD statement is tantamount to reducing the whole ecumenical platform to an individual. This can’t be! Some generous historians have provided evidence which shows that each time ZHOCD reacts positively to Government pronouncements, Jamwanda quickly comes in to spoil the party, particularly through targeting Rev Mtata’s person. The reason is not yet known though! What could be the background to this personal “hatred”?"
Source : ZimEye
*Lawyers challenge mandatory vaccination*
HARARE – A group of lawyers has initiated moves to sue government, churches and employers over compulsory vaccination of employees and congregants.
The lawyers have started circulating a petition to be signed by disgruntled workers and congregants, in support of the legal action.
This followed recent pronouncement that churches would only open to vaccinated congregants.
Recently, the Public Service Commission (PSC) issued a circular barring unvaccinated government workers from physically reporting for work or board PSC buses.
Several private firms and State institutions, including universities, are reportedly implementing a similar policy, forcing employees to get inoculated or risk forced leave.
Some church leaders have been arrested for allowing unvaccinated congregants to attend services in church.
One of the lawyers behind the campaign, Obert Kondongwe yesterday said there was no law in Zimbabwe which made vaccination compulsory despite the health benefits likely to be derived from the exercise.
“It must be noted from the onset that there is no law in Zimbabwe which makes vaccination mandatory. As such, there is no criminal law which penalises church gatherings of unvaccinated congregants. It is trite that each person, having fully considered the implications and effects of vaccination, is expected to make a personal decision on whether or not to get vaccinated and even to make a personal decision regarding the timing of such vaccination,” Kondongwe said.
“The practice of obliging anyone to get vaccinated constitutes an infringement of rights and freedoms contained in the Constitution under sections 51, 52, 56, 58, 60 and 65.”
Kondongwe added: “It is common cause that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Section 44 of the Constitution provides that the State and every person, including juristic persons, and every institution and agency of the government at every level must respect, protect, promote, and fulfil the rights and freedoms set out in chapter 4 of the Constitution.”
The lawyers accused employers of invading workers’ privacy contrary to what is enshrined in section 51 of the Constitution by insisting on COVID-19 vaccination certificates.
They added that the vaccines were still experimental and according to section 52(c) of the Constitution, citizens had a right not to be subjected to medical or scientific experiments without their consent.
“Section 58 gives everyone the right to freedom of assembly and association. Unvaccinated congregants must still enjoy their freedom to assemble as much as the vaccinated,” the petition read.
The lawyers said fair labour practices did not impose mandatory vaccination as a condition for employment.
“This is more so because it appears that employers are only barring unvaccinated employees and not customers. It is also quite clear that a majority of workers are not yet vaccinated and a sudden and unregulated imposition of mandatory vaccination will lead to massive job losses that will have far-reaching consequences on the economy,” the petition further read.
Source : NewsDay
*Churches Fail To Reopen*
CONFUSION marred the reopening of churches yesterday with few congregants turning up, while other denominations remained closed in a development that exposed the low number of the inoculated among the faithful.
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.
Source : NewsDay
*Christ Embassy Pastor Arrested Over Unvaccinated Congregants*
A Harare-based Christ Embassy Ministries pastor was arrested on Sunday after police found a gathering of 50 unvaccinated members congregating in violation of COVID-19 regulations.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi on Monday said the pastor from Harare’s Glen View high-density residential area was fined $2 000 while some of the church members are still assisting police with investigations.
Last week the government said churches could resume in-person services but only for fully vaccinated congregants, who have had both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Congregants are also required to wear masks, observe social distancing and sanitise on entry.
While no limit was placed on the number attending a particular service, the social distance requirements mean that the church leaders will have to limit numbers so that the need is met.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that most traditional churches like the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and Reformed Church in Zimbabwe, among others, did not conduct services this past Sunday as most of their members are not vaccinated.
Source : News Report
*Mambo Dhuterere Slams Mapositori Over Death Of Anna Machaya*
Gospel musician Mambo Dhuterere, born Darlington Mutseta, has slammed the Johanne Marange Apostolic sect (mapositori) following the death of a 14-year-old girl during childbirth at the church's shrine in Marange, Manicaland.
In a Facebook post, Dhuterere asserted that marrying off underage girls is rape and not consistent with what the Bible teaches. He wrote:
_I don’t know kuti zvekurara ne pwere zvakatopasiswa here pa church doctrine renyu?.. or vangoriwo some individuals vane hunhubu.. zvimwe zvinoshoresa mapostori ese toita setisina kukwana… inini personally am so against that, Plus zvekuti mwana anozvarwa atova ne murume kare kana kumanikidza mwana kuenda pachipari zvakaora izvozvo._
_Ko bible moverenga wani?.. vanhu tese taingoita zvekunzwa but nyaya yemwana uyu yaita tizive kuti ndezveshuwa.. Am rising against that. Whatever you call it kwatiri i RAPE._
Is it that having s_xual relations with minors is a doctrine approved by the church's leadership?
_Or could it be wayward behaviour by some unruly elements [within the church?] Such kind of behaviour brings shame on apostolic churches... I'm personally against the practice._
_We cannot have a situation whereby a girl is given over to a husband even before she is born, and forcibly giving away girls in marriage to polygamous men is totally unacceptable._
_You claim to read the Bible... we heard the issue of the girl (deceased) and this has confirmed what your congregants are doing. ... to us, it's simply rape._
The 14-year-old girl, Anna Machaya, died on 15 July this year, sparking national outrage.
She had been forced out of school and married off to Evans Momberume, a polygamous man.
She was denied medical care and died at the shrine in the hands of five "midwives". She left her newly born child.
Source : Pindula
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