MDC Alliance legislator for Zengeza West, Job Sikhala, this Wednesday poposed that churches be allowed to host over 100 congregants in one service if they have enough room for huge gatherings.
The government allowed churches to resume their worshipping services warning that congregants should not exceed 100.
The directive which was meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic has an adverse impact on big churches including ZAOGA, Makandiwa’s UFIC, AFM, Magaya’s PHD which have hundreds of members at one assembly.
Churches had resorted to having more than one service to accommodate all congregants. They now use electricity and venues for more hours which means they need to pay more for those resources.
Speaking in the National Assembly this Wednesday, Sikhala said some churches have big auditoriums which can accommodate over 100 worshippers even when observing the social distancing recommendation.
Responding to the suggestion, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, said churches should write to the COVID-19 task force stating how they intend to do that.
The minister added that if the churches’ case is compelling, they will probably be allowed to have over 100 worshippers in one service.
He emphasised that the legislation in place currently forbids gatherings of more than 100 people despite the size of venue.