PASTORS WARNED

SANFROSSA MANYINDA writes PASTORS, who are preaching against prescribed health guidelines will be arrested, National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili has warned. Reverend Sumaili told The Sun that it was a crime for some pastors to preach against preventive measures such as wearing masks, social distancing, avoiding huge gatherings and regular hand-washing. A trend has emerged where some pastors, who preach on buses, are telling people that wearing of masks could not help, insisting that the COVID-19 was a demon and not a normal virus which could only be eliminated through divine intervention. But Rev Sumaili said the message was misleading and warned such pastors of arrest. “They will be arrested because misinformation especially on this matter is a serious crime. We will not continue watching pastors going round lying to people that COVID-19 was a demon and telling them to stop adhering to the guidelines given,” she warned. Rev Sumaili maintained that what the pastors were doing was contrary to what the law stated. She said that the trend was totally unacceptable and that the law would not spare anybody who would be found misleading the public regardless of their standing in society. The Minister said it was wrong for people to take advantage of innocent citizens who were desperate to see the pandemic come to an end. Rev Sumaili further called on the public to be weary of such pastors and instead guard their health jealously.  “We also urge members of the public to continue adhering to health guidelines given and protect their lives as well as save lives of many. People are dying and asking people to stop following the guidelines is a joke,” the minister said. The Sun