BULAWAYO – Bulawayo police on Sunday arrested 48 congregants for holding a church service in breach of coronavirus lockdown regulations.

Police raided the Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide Revelation in Tshabalala suburb shortly after 1PM and ordered the congregants to walk to the nearby Tshabalala Police Station, where they were expected to pay $500 fines.

Those who fail to pay the fine can be jailed for up to two months.

Inspector Abednico Ncube of Bulawayo police said the congregants, led by an Apostle Ndlovu, “claimed that they thought that gatherings of below 100 people were permitted.”

This was the second arrest of church members in the same neighbourhood for breaking the lockdown restrictions on gatherings.

Two weeks ago, nine members of the Revival of Jesus Miracles Ministries in Nketa suburb were also taken to the same police station and were only released after paying admission of guilt fines.

The Zimbabwe government announced a 35-day lockdown which began on March 30, during which period people are expected to stay at home unless venturing out to buy food, to seek medical assistance or when providing an essential service.

Enforcement of the regulations in what is a highly informalised economy, and in the middle of a maize meal shortages, has stretched Zimbabwe’s security services.