Zimbabwe Churches Scoff at Government Decision to Allow Vaccinated to Attend Services

HARARE, ZIMBABWE - Churches in Zimbabwe are questioning the government’s sincerity in allowing them to hold services for the vaccinated when only about 10% of the country’s population has been vaccinated against COVID-19. The government said this week that Christians who had received two shots could gather, a move some see as a way to drive up inoculation, given that more than 70% of the country's population is Christian.

This week, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa told reporters that the government had noticed a decline of new COVI-19 cases, therefore. "Cabinet wishes to inform the public that churches can now allow sit-in congregants under the following conditions: only congregants who have received two doses of the [COVID-19] vaccine are allowed to attend," Mutsvangwa said. "And all Ministry of Health and Child Care and WHO protocols have to be adhered to. And those found in breach will be arrested including the leaders of the church.”    The government said it would not extend that permission to bars, as most drinkers were vaccinated and did not believe in the “mark of the beast,” theory which some church leaders were preaching to discourage congregants from getting vaccines.