CHURCH members and leaders of a Jehovah’s Witnesses branch n Lusaka’s Kamwala area were this morning beaten up by a combined team of military personell after they attempted to gather for a church service.

Last week, the Ministry of Health banned church gatherings and other gatherings in a bid to contain the Cholera situation in the country. While some churches have complied, a few others have opted to go ahead with their worship services.

A branch of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kamwala this morning decided to ignore the government directive. A few minutes into the church service, a Land cruiser full of military personell and police officers landed at the church premises and ordered the church leaders to stop the service— according to an eye witnesses.

“When the leaders tried to resist the order, the soldiers just started beating up the leaders. When the members tried to protest, they were also slapped. That’s how everyone scampered in different directions,” said an eye witness.

A check by The Church newspaper found the church closed.

(Picture below for illustrative purposes only)