News / Local
Bulawayo council threaten to fine open air worshipers $20 per head
05 Apr 2012 at 05:26hrs | Views
Bulawayo City Council is battling to stop open air worshiping by several religious groupings in the city citing political interference. BCC has threatened to fine open air worshipers $20 per head for anyone caught at the open-air prayer sessions around the city.
Councilors divided on what action to take with some dismissing accusations that the churches are blocking lack of rains but agree that open air worshiping cause environmental degradation.
Churches mostly from the amapositri sect have occupied empty pieces of land dotted in the city for their services.
Now council has resolved to approach government to enforce a ban on open air worshiping.
Councilor Ephraim Ncube said government supports open air worshiping and toilets should be built for the churches.
"Government supported open air worship. The country was enjoying the freedom of worship. Worshiping was a serious issue which needed to be treated with respect," said Ncube.
Ncube said "lack of rains due to open air worshiping was just a myth."
Council said it had parceled out stands to several churches to built proper structures a majority of them failed to construct as they lack funds.
Of late, the Bulawayo City Council wanted to effect a ban on open-air worship, citing lack of ablution facilities at the sites as posing a threat on the outbreak of cholera, which claimed many lives in 2008.
However, this intent has been met with strong resistance with some Christians, saying the attempt by the local authority was tantamount to the violation of the freedom of worship, guaranteed in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
BCC threatened to fine them $20 per head for anyone caught at the open-air prayer sessions around the city.
The practice was in violation of Bulawayo by-laws of 1975, Protection of Lands and Natural Resources, section 27(b), he said.
Members of Apostolic sects have accused council of seeking to ban their congregations as a way of enticing worshippers from churches to council beer halls.
Councilors divided on what action to take with some dismissing accusations that the churches are blocking lack of rains but agree that open air worshiping cause environmental degradation.
Churches mostly from the amapositri sect have occupied empty pieces of land dotted in the city for their services.
Now council has resolved to approach government to enforce a ban on open air worshiping.
Councilor Ephraim Ncube said government supports open air worshiping and toilets should be built for the churches.
"Government supported open air worship. The country was enjoying the freedom of worship. Worshiping was a serious issue which needed to be treated with respect," said Ncube.
Ncube said "lack of rains due to open air worshiping was just a myth."
Council said it had parceled out stands to several churches to built proper structures a majority of them failed to construct as they lack funds.
Of late, the Bulawayo City Council wanted to effect a ban on open-air worship, citing lack of ablution facilities at the sites as posing a threat on the outbreak of cholera, which claimed many lives in 2008.
However, this intent has been met with strong resistance with some Christians, saying the attempt by the local authority was tantamount to the violation of the freedom of worship, guaranteed in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
BCC threatened to fine them $20 per head for anyone caught at the open-air prayer sessions around the city.
The practice was in violation of Bulawayo by-laws of 1975, Protection of Lands and Natural Resources, section 27(b), he said.
Members of Apostolic sects have accused council of seeking to ban their congregations as a way of enticing worshippers from churches to council beer halls.
Source - Byo24News
