The Sunday Mail
Harare City Council has begun demolishing all church structures erected on undesignated sites as authorities battle to end a host of illegalities that have become common in the capital, thereby turning the city into an eyesore.
Of late, the Harare City Council has been encouraging worshippers to adher to the city’s by-laws that prohibits illegal structures.
Harare City Council and Apostolic sects are poised for a showdown over plans by the local authority to restrict open air worship to between 10am and 6pm – Pictures: Believe Nyakudjara
Acting Harare corporate communications manager, Mr Michael Chideme confirmed that council has started demolishing illegal church structures in Harare.
He also urged churches to apply for church stands.
“While council has embarked on that (demolitions), churches should apply for stands and stop occupying council land illegally. Even open air worshipers should also apply for land,” Mr Chideme said.
He added that council has vast land in residential areas and church organizations that will apply for it will benefit while those who continue to defy council by-laws will face the full wrath of the law.
Harare City Council and Apostolic sects are poised for a showdown over plans by the local authority to restrict open air worship to between 10am and 6pm – Pictures: Believe Nyakudjara
Last week, earth moving machines descended in Budiriro, Kuwadzana and Dzvivarasekwa and razed some structures that were being used as areas of worship to the ground.
The Sunday Mail Religion witnessed the cith fathers’ bulldozers destroying some of the structures in Dzivarasekwa and Kuwadzana, with believers watching helplessly.
A fortnight ago, Harare City director of works, Engineer Philip Pfukwa said the operation was meant to rid the city of illegal activities and structures that had robbed the capital of its ‘Sunshine City’ status.
The Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM), Seventh Day Adventist church and ZIOGA are some of the churches affected.
Some members of the affected churches have since appealed for leniency from Government and council.
They are also seeking land to erect their churches in line with the council’s call for legal structures. The Harare Residents Trust has indicated that about 100 structures in Budiriro alone face demolition.
“There are about 100 churches facing demolitions in Budiriro. Residents informed the HRT that Harare City Council had given them two weeks’ notice to evacuate,” said the Trust.
The Trust claimed that the churches have been paying monthly rates to council.
When contacted for comment over this, Mr Chideme simply advised affected churches to approach council for legal land.
HRT also accused the council of being insensitive.
“After destroying houses, they (council) have now turned to churches. The question is, do they not fear God?” said the Trust.
Meanwhile, Harare Indigenous Churches also issued a press statement on the demolitions.
Apostle Patson Machengete, the Harare Indigenous Churches spokesperson said indigenous churches are law abiding and will not defy the governing authorities according to Romans 13 verses 1-2.
He however said that some churches had occupied the open spaces not as a way of protesting but as an appeal to the local authorities and the Government to consider the constituency of the indigenous churches.
