Churches should adapt to the new normal: Mangwiro

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Chronicle Reporter
MINISTRY of Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro has said churches have to adapt to the new normal as Government is not going to go back on its directive for churches to open doors only to fully vaccinated congregants.

Government has given churches the green light to resume physical services with only congregants fully vaccinated against Covid-19 allowed to attend.

In light of this development some churches have not resumed services with leaders indicating that they are engaging Government over the new regulations. Other churches have however, resumed services under the new guidelines.

In an interview yesterday Dr Mangwiro said Government will not make any compromises on issues to do with Covid-19 regulations.

“There is no other way around Covid-19 besides getting vaccinated. Covid-19 is killing many people and we have experienced this as a country. It’s the duty of every individual to protect themselves and the next person and therefore, people in our churches need to be protected as well. The country has been shutting down as a result of the pandemic and in the process, we have been losing a lot of revenue.

“Developed countries are opening up spaces just because people are getting vaccinated and that’s what we also want to achieve as a country. Government has said churches should only allow fully vaccinated congregants and that is the position.

When churches are saying they want to engage Government over the matter what do they mean because there is no other way around Covid-19 besides people being vaccinated. Church leaders must instead encourage their congregants to get vaccinated.

There isn’t any other way out for churches but to adapt to the new normal,” he said.

Dr Mangwiro said research has shown that most of the people who are succumbing to Covid-19 are not vaccinated.

He said he had not received any communication from church leaders over the new regulations.
In a statement which was issued last week the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) said mandatory vaccination imposes a discriminatory, unfair and inequitable burden on churches.

“As the EFZ we appreciate the Government’s efforts in responding to the request we made for churches to be permitted to start having physical gatherings. We uphold the right for individuals to make personal informed choices regarding vaccinations.

While churches are at liberty to gather in line with Government requirements according to their own discretion in our humble and considered opinion the vaccination requirement amounts to imposition of mandatory vaccination and imposes a discriminatory, unfair and inequitable burden on the church that does not apply to other sectors.

“The Government directive amounts to prohibiting the church from meeting at all because the church by its very nature, cannot meet just for the vaccinated while excluding all the under-18 age group who do not yet qualify for vaccination and the millions who want to be vaccinated but cannot yet be due to the unavailability of enough vaccines or inadequate manpower at clinics where thousands are still being turned away every day.

There are still many in our midst who still need to be convinced about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. For this reason, we believe in persuasion as opposed to indirect compulsion. Given these and other grey areas around the new conditions we remain committed to directly engage with our Government for a mutually beneficial outcome in fighting this pandemic. We, therefore, urge members to proceed with caution and wisdom in light of all of the above,” read the statement.

A senior pastor who preferred anonymity said church leaders were now between a hard place and a rock as the guideline contradicted with one of the core values of the church institution which is inclusivity.

“Generally, the church institution doesn’t segregate hence the Government’s directive which says only the fully vaccinated must be allowed in church leaves the leaders in a dilemma. In Matthew 11 v 28 the Lord says “come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest”. John 6 v 37 says “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

“In these verses Jesus Christ is inviting people to come to Him and who are we to drive God’s people away because of the vaccine. When people come to church they will be coming to God and by chasing them away we are denying them salvation. People are not vaccinated for various reasons and some cases are genuine,” he said.

In a statement issued soon after Cabinet’s announcement on the opening of churches, police warned churches against allowing unvaccinated congregants to attend services as they will be closely monitored by the law enforcement agents and violators will be arrested.

In the statement National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they will continue to enforce Covid-19 regulations under the level four lockdown which President Mnangagwa extended.

He said the police will assist health officials to ensure compliance and arrest anyone defying the safety protocols. He said police will also take action against those who might try to take advantage of the directive and produce fake vaccination certificates. — @DubeMatutu