Open-air worshippers faces an imminent ban

OPEN-air worshippers in Masvingo City are facing an imminent ban amid fears of disease outbreaks as some religious groups conduct prayers where there are no ablution facilities.

This follows a resolution by Masvingo City Council to act on open-air worshippers who councillors say are violating council by-laws that prohibit people or religious organisations from conducting their prayers where there are no ablution facilities.

The resolution also comes against the backdrop of concerns raised by members of the Traditional Medical Practitioners' Council on members of apostolic sects who conduct their prayers in open spaces where there are no toilets and water.

In an interview, Masvingo Mayor Alderman Femius Chakabuda said it was the local authority's mandate to ensure that residents including religious groups did not use council land without authority.

"No one should occupy council land without being given the authority and this also includes religious groups.

"To make matters worse some religious groups are seen conducting their prayers in open spaces where there are no toilets, let alone water," said Ald Chakabuda.

"This is a cause for concern to us, as city fathers."

He said the city council would embark on a blitz that would see open-air worship stopped.

"We are not opposed to people's religions because we are also God-fearing men and women.

"We are only worried on seeing people gathering and conducting their prayers where there are no toilets and with the advent of diseases like cholera and typhoid there is a great risk," said Ald Chakabuda.

"Besides people should get the authority first to use the bushes they are using since all the land around the city is within our jurisdiction as Masvingo City Council," he said.

Ald Chakabuda advised religious groups to apply for permission to use school grounds and some halls instead of open air spaces.

A similar exercise was carried out in 2009 when a semblance of order was restored.

The issue of open-air worshippers is becoming a cause for concern with a number of local authorities also facing similar challenges.

Repeated efforts to stop religious groups from conducting their prayers in open spaces have been met with stiff resistance from the worshippers.

Bulawayo City Council recently suggested that religious groups should use beer halls, which are no longer functioning.

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