Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The Freethinker

Home
Nonreligious
Apostolic Church members hampering Zimbabwe’s war on Covid-19

Apostolic Church members hampering Zimbabwe’s war on Covid-19

Last updated on: November 3, 2021 at 5:11 pm by Barry Duke

Apostolic Church members hampering Zimbabwe’s war on Covid-19 2021-11-03T17:11:30+02:00 Barry Duke

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Two Apostolic church leaders. Image via YouTube

THEY wear white, gather outdoors to sing and pray and, to the dismay of health authorities in Zimbabwe, Apostolic Church members are standing in the way of attempts to get people vaccinated.

The Guardian reports that since the government partly reopened church gatherings in August, “white church” members are gathering once more in great numbers and spreading the message that “little stones and holy water”, rather than vaccines will ensure their members aren’t infected by Covid.

While the Catholic church, evangelical and adventist groups have advised vaccinations, those in the Apostolic Church are proving strongly resistant to jabs.

With millions of followers across southern Africa, the church’s stance could undermine Zimbabwe’s attempts to vaccinate 60 percent of the population by December.

Said Gramaridge Musendekwa, of the Vadzidzi Apostolic church:

We believe in God, and science is entirely subject to God’s will. I grew up on my parents’ prayers and I am passing it down to my children. My family will not take the vaccine because we are protected by prayers.

I believe we should not be forced to get vaccinated. For us who grew up without medicine, vaccinations are an insult to our faith and religion. Surely the authorities can achieve whatever they want to do without involving us.

After spending hours at a shrine, decorated with red and white flags, Miriam Mushayabasa, 34, a mother-of-three, believes she does not need a vaccine.

Our preacher gave us a clear instruction that if we use these little stones and holy water he prayed for, nothing will happen to our families. Since Covid-19 began last March, my family and I have never suffered from this disease, we are as strong as ever.

My children are strong, so I have no cause to fear. I have always believed in prayers and this is how I choose to go through this pandemic.

The Apostolic position threatens the success of vaccination programmes in southern Africa, according to research published in the Journal of Religion and Health in 2017, which linked it directly to the rise of measles outbreaks in 2009 to 2010.

More than 85 percent of Zimbabweans identify as Christian, and 37 percent belong to the Apostolic church.

So far only 15 percent of Zimbabwe’s population has been inoculated since vaccinations began in February. It is one of 15 African countries to have achieved the World Health Organization target of 10 percent of citizens by September.

Regular vaccine consignments are arriving from China, but the government says misinformation and general mistrust have slowed the vaccination programme.

Aaron Chakaipa, 40, reflecting the fears of his fellow Apostolic members, said:

I heard that if you get vaccinated, you will not be fertile any more. I am really scared to take it. I believe an individual should make a personal decision and not be cajoled into taking the vaccination. Telling people to stay away from church if they are not vaccinated is the same as forcing the vaccination, which is not right.

However, Andby Makururu, bishop and founder of the Johane Fifth of Africa Apostolic church in the eastern Manicaland province, is encouraging his members to get vaccinated.

We are transforming the indigenous church to suit global standards. Johane the Fifth of Africa has been on a vaccination drive.

In all our preachings, we encourage members to get vaccinations because the Holy Spirit does not cure all these diseases. So I am encouraging the Apostolic sect to go to hospitals and get treatment, I also get treatment and regular checkups.

He says sects who deny the benefits of vaccines are out of touch.

Our children are getting vaccinated. Those that are still behind are lagging but we are moving with the times.

Meanwhile Tonga’s most populous island Tongatapu has implemented a nighttime curfew and closed non-essential businesses as part of a seven-day shutdown after confirming its first case of Covid-19. It was brought over from New Zealand by a Mormon missionary.

• Please report any typos/errors to [email protected]

If you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee – and boy, do I get through a LOT of coffee keeping this site active – please click the link below.

I’d love a cup of coffee

Previous Post

November 2, 2021

Texas radio show host gets three life sentences for a Ponzi scheme

Next Post

November 4, 2021 Uri Gellers 'psychic powers' helped Boris Johnson gain power

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Archive My Atheism News Opinion Reviews Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 March 2007 April 2006 February 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the Sword of the Spirit represent?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Holy Spirit The power of prayer Faith The Word of God

Books by This Author Books by The Freethinker

See All Titles »