THE Victoria Falls Municipality which, a few months ago, announced plans to ban open space churches says it is crafting a by-law that would empower it to arrest those who disobey the order.

A number of churches have sprouted along the highway on the buffer zone, which is reserved as an animal corridor forcing the council to take the bold step, which these church organisations have been ignoring.

The council feels the proliferation of open space worshipers would have a negative bearing on tourism as they are now a common feature along major roads in the resort town.

Town Clerk Christopher Dube announced at last week’s full council meeting that members of open space churches will be arrested if they defied a council order for them to move.

“We have a challenge with open air churches and they are defiling the environment by cutting down trees,” said Dube.

“Since you are aware that we have engaged these churches, we are now going to put sign posts stating that open space churches are illegal on those sites and we have briefed the police about the issue because we can’t allow people to defile the environment.

“If they refuse they are going to be arrested because we have come up with a by-law which we are finalising and will empower us to deal with them.

However, the development is likely to spark war between the local authority and open space worshipers, particularly the apostolic sects and the Zionist churches.

The Town Clerk has recently said the local authority was not against people worshipping, but condemned the defiling of the environment.

Victoria Falls Town falls is situated within the Zambezi National Park and human made activities should be controlled according to conservation laws.

A few years ago, the Bulawayo City Council clashed with worshipers when the local authority resolved to ban them from worshiping under trees.

The idea was dropped after a stiff resistance from the churches.source-newzimbabwe