HEALTH officials in Murewa have, for the second time in less than a month, called in the police to shut down a popular Johanne Marange apostolic sect shrine in the area following the death of four members, including the sect leader, from cholera.
-newzimbabwe.com
Last week, three people died at the Chitsidzo Shrine in Nyamutamba while another sect member died at Murewa Hospital where he had been admitted.
The latest deaths bring to eight the total number of sect members and patients who have succumbed to death from cholera at the shrine, inside a month.
In mid-December, four members died at the same shrine before health officials also sought the assistance of the police to move in and close the shrine. This is after thousands of church members had gathered for their annual holy communion.
A senior Mashonaland East police officer confirmed that officials from the Health ministry had since sought assistance from the police to close the shrine and avert further outbreaks and deaths.
“I can confirm that police officers in Murewa have since moved in to assist the Health ministry officials in closing down the shrine and disperse everyone gathered there. Senior police officials from the province will soon be on their way to the shrine to assess how best we could stop further outbreaks,” he said.
According to Mashonaland East provincial epidemiologist, Paul Matsvimbo, first to die at the shrine last week was a child who was being treated for an unknown ailment by the sect leader.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Soon after, the sect leader also died, followed by his aide while the fourth person died in hospital.
Matsvimbo said a cholera reaction team had been set up at the nearby Nyamutumbu Clinic to treat new cases, while Murewa district Civil Protection Unit mobilised resources.
