Exiled former cabinet minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has criticised MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa for urging the government to reconsider reopening churches under the current level 4 national lockdown.
In his address to the nation on Thursday, Chamisa, who is an ordained pastor and lawyer argued for the reopening of places of worship under strict regulations. He said:
We must allow churches to open for a controlled number of people provided there is social distancing, masking, and other Covid-19 protocols.
To our bishops, pastors, the church body, intercessors, and believers, we encourage you to continue to stand in the gap to pray for our nation.
However, Professor Moyo dismissed Chamisa’s call for divine intervention saying science should lead in the fight against the novel coronavirus. Moyo tweeted:
COVID-19 is a medical challenge of science that requires a scientific solution. Anything else is mumbo jumbo.
Moyo’s sentiments did not go down well with former MDC Alliance lawmaker for Binga North Prince Dubeko Sibanda who came out guns blazing in defence of Chamisa. He said:
Where’s science when people are dying in large numbers in the USA, UK, and EU?
Science works hand in hand with the spiritual? We can’t close out one while opening the other.
Why are supermarkets opening? Why are banks opening? Why are Zupco buses moving?
For the same reasons allow places of worship to open.
Then we demand strict adherence to the protocols.
Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday extended the national lockdown by another 10 days to the 15th of February.
As of 29 January 2021, Zimbabwe had 32 952 confirmed cases, including 24 872 recoveries and 1 178 deaths.