adminBefore, councillors had vowed that they would never meet with the churches but would unleash the might of council’s security officers on them until they stopped worshipping in the bush.
Recently councillors suggested that the churches should worship in empty council beerhalls where there were toilets.
The move was resisted by the churches.
During a full council meeting in the council chambers on Wednesday evening, councillors noted that the number of open air churches was increasing, despite fines of up to $20 issued to members.
“We are tired of this. Council said it should stop, which means there is a mechanism to remedy the situation, but it is going on unchecked. There could be a hidden hand behind the sprouting of these churches,” said Councillor Paul Malaba of Ward 4.
Clr Nduna Dladla of Ward 11 said the church members relieved themselves in the open and some of them had the audacity to take the waste and use it as manure in their gardens.
The assertion was, however, shot down by Ward 7 Councillor, Clr James Sithole.
“We need to be careful when approaching this matter. Even though there are by-laws, we cannot declare war on residents. The issue of people fouling the bush is exaggerated. These people believe in fasting before going to worship, so they cannot mess up that much. We should just find them alternative places to hold their church services,” said Clr Sithole.
Clr Phinias Ndlovu of Ward 14 disagreed with Clr Sithole, saying he had spent a day at one of the churches and saw them taking turns to leave the service and relieve themselves in surrounding bushes.
“These people are not afraid of snakes. Let us beg them to go to the bush in Richmond and towards Aisleby Farm, where they can mess up. Let us approach them nicely and have dialogue. We should also look at churches equally because most churches that get approval for stands are the conventional churches. In fact, most of the stands in the city have been allocated to the Seventh Day Adventist Church,” said Clr Ndlovu.
Clr Clyton Zana of Ward 19 said dialogue was constructive because he spoke to open-air churches in his ward and they peacefully moved to Ward 27.
Ward 18’s Clr Ndlovu said council could be failing on the issue because they did not know the churches’ side of the story.
“These people have a culture of open air worshipping. Most of them prefer having services on mountains because they believe they would be close to God. They even shout when praying to attract God’s undivided attention. We could be disrupting their culture while believing we are helping them. Let us talk to them,” said Clr Ndlovu.
Summing up the debate, the Mayor, Clr Thaba Moyo, said by-laws could not be changed for anyone.
With councillors agreeing, he said a meeting should be scheduled with the churches as soon as possible.
Council declared war on the churches following the cholera outbreak that swept through most parts of the country in 2008.
Despite threats, arrests and fines on church members, the churches have been multiplying since then.
Online Reporter