By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean cleric and founder of Grace Ablaze Ministries Bishop Ancelimo Magaya has called on government to stop forcing church members to get vaccinated first in order to congregate adding that this “commandist and fist like” approach is discriminatory and a violation of people’s rights
His statements come following an announcement by the Zimbabwean government, Wednesday, that only fully-vaccinated people can now attend church services.
Zimbabwe is currently on level 4 Lockdown, and six weeks ago, government suspended church gatherings in a move aimed at curbing the spread of the covid-19 virus.
Announced Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa during a post cabinet press briefing:
“Cabinet wishes to inform the public that churches can now allow sit-in congregants under the following conditions: Only congregants who have received two doses of the vaccine are allowed to attend, all Ministry of Health and Child Care and WHO (World Health Organization) protocols are adhered to and all those found in breach will be arrested, including leaders of the churches.”
However, Bishop Magaya who is also the Executive Director of Zimbabwe Divine Destiny Network urged government to engage and stop its commandist approach in the covid-19 vaccination exercise.
He said:
“Whilst we acknowledge the fact that as Zimbabweans and in particular as churches we need to comply with WHO Guidelines to ensure we minimise the spread of this pandemic, we reject totally out of hand government’s approach this commandist iron fist like approach which has been in the ruling Zanu Pf party DNA to violate peoples rights, the rights to freedom of conscience, the rights to worship, the rights to assembly. It is discriminatory. Yeah. It is discriminatory and that should be rejected.
Why is it that government fails to use an approach where they campaign and persuade people, educate people and put in place measures that are not commandist to expedite the process of making sure that people get vaccinated?
Now it such an approach that promotes not only resistance but corruption as we hear that there are some vaccine cards that are being sold already. Furthermore, we are aware that some Zanu Pf meetings under the guise of government business have never stopped.
Zanu Pf politburo meetings have been going on. Amai Auxilia’s Angel of Hope meetings have been going on. Have all these people been vaccinated?
We know that most if not all the Marange people where a 14yr old girl died whilst giving birth were not vaccinated. The government should stop diverting people’s attention from real issues such as their failure to prosecute blood suckers who force children into marriage. We know that it is for political mileage that they cannot enforce this law to this vampire apostolic sect guising itself as church. This is hypocrisy of the highest order, it should be resisted.
We have already been responsible and we do not need this iron fist like commandist like approach. It is bad when people begin to taste the sweetness of power even to this extent.