By John Ikani
Mozambique is perfecting plans to introduce a law aimed at regulating church activities and imposing taxes on them.
Disclosing this to newsmen, Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs Minister Helena Kida explained that the proposed law had become necessary following “warning signs” amid a runaway proliferation of churches.
Heritage Times gathered that only 900 religious denominations are registered in Mozambique, but a lot more exist.
The Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM) is backing most of the provisions of the proposed law, saying it recognizes that the government wants to “bring order”.
The provision to tax churches however worries the churches.
“It’s an aspect that was talked about, but we didn’t reach any consensus,” says CCM President Felicidade Chirindza, noting that churches have never been taxed.
