SYDNEY SAIZE IN MUTARE
The Johane Marange Apostolic sect members are gathered at Mafararikwa Shrine, in Chiadzwa for their annual passover commemorations defying the Covid-19 regulations that ban such gatherings, Business Times can report.
The passover began last week and runs until July 18,2021.
The development has triggered an outcry, forcing concerned community leaders from Chiadzwa area in Marange, to raise the red flag with the police and the government over the convergence at the shrine.
But, it appeared the police were turning a blind eye on the goings on at the shrine.
Malvern Mudiwa of the Marange Community Development Trust told the Business Times all was not well in their area as thousands of worshippers converged at the shrine defying a government directive concerning gathering under Covid-19 regulations.
“As community leaders we are really worried about the ongoing developments at Mafararikwa which are putting people’s lives in jeopardy. We understand that no one is supposed to congregate at this time if the figure is above 30 people, but why are they being allowed to go ahead with their gathering?
“This is a serious action of double standards on the part of the government and the police that we expect to enforce the law and that we all abide by. We see here the government closing or turning a blind eye on the people at Mafararikwa, while the other eye is wide open on other people, churches and players where they hasten to take action,’’ Mudiwa told Business Times.
He said they had raised the issue with the police but no action was taken on the matter.
“ We fear these people could make our community and area a super spreader of the Covid-19 pandemic since they come from different places from across African region and beyond.
“On this we clearly see the selective application of the law,’’ Mudiwa fumed.
Moses Mkwada of the Bocha Community Diamond Trust said he had approached law enforcement at the Mutare Rural police station with a complaint but it was in vain.
‘’We raised our concern as villagers from Marange about our fears of a super spreader but we did not get the help we expected. We were referred from one office to the next and to this day more and more people are coming to the pilgrimage exposing locals to chances of contracting Covid-19 during and after they depart at the weekend,’’ Mkwada said.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luxon Chananda, said he was not aware of the gathering.
“I am not aware of the nature of the issues you are raising with me, but would refer you to my senior, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi. He might be of help,” Chananda told Business Times.
Church member Emmanuel Ngandini said their pilgrimage is an event that ought not to be missed at whatever cost.
“When we do our gatherings we’re protected by God so there won’t be any harm on us, fear not we are covered,’’ Ngandini said.
Earlier before schools closed members of the church withdrew their children from classes to stop them from being vaccinated against measles, polio and other diseases that affect under 15 years old children only to release them when the government programme was completed.
Last month, President Emmerson Mnangagwa banned gatherings except funerals, to contain the spread of Covid-19. The measures came amid soaring new cases and deaths.
