Victoria Falls outlaws open-air worship

VICTORIA Falls Municipality is moving to outlaw open-air worshipping through a proposed by-law that will see offenders being arrested.

Town Clerk Christopher Dube said that open space worshippers, who are a common feature along the resort town's major roads were defiling the environment and threatening tourism, hence the decision to ban them.

He said the local authority was concerned about the proliferation of churches, mainly apostolic sects and Zionists conducting their services in the open.

He said some of them were indiscriminately cutting down trees.

Dube said the local authority had been approached by tourism players complaining about the state of affairs.

The Environmental Management Agency and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority had also accused council of failing to carry out its mandate due to concerns on open-air worshipping.

Dube said they have since engaged churches and were erecting sign posts on all sites clearly stating that it was illegal to use open spaces for worshipping.

The Victoria Falls is a world heritage site whose natural environment should be protected.