Kitwe Pastor, elders nabbed for over crowded church

By SANFROSSA MANYINDA
FIVE church leaders including a pastor at the Apostolic Church of Zambia in Kitwe’s were on Sunday arrested for conducting a church gathering without authority and certification.
In his third national address on the corona virus pandemic, President Edgar Lungu permitted churches across that the country to reopen churches while observing health guidelines that were given.
The pastor and is Church elders were ministering in Bulangililo Township in an overcrowded building while congregants did not have face masks nor practice social distancing.
Kitwe City Council health inspectors in the company of state police pounced on the Church leaders.
Council Public Relations Manager, Roy Kuseka, said the suspects who included pastors were arrested but later released on bond awaiting court appearance.
“Our inspectors also found the hand washing facilities placed at the church without water, a situation we could not tolerate,” he said.
Mr Kuseka further warned other church leaders to strictly adhere to the public health guidelines and certification process when holding prayers in churches.
He said that the violation of the guidelines not only constituted a crime, but also endangered the lives of church members.