By Julius Idrissa Manganda
CHIPINGE – The Muslim community in Chipinge has been left without a permanent place of worship after the town council demolished what community members say was the only Masjid serving Muslims in the town.
The Masjid, which stood on land donated by the Sackam family in 2007, was reduced to rubble by a front-end loader on Tuesday afternoon as the council carried out demolitions in parts of the town.
Chipinge Town Secretary James Mutemera said the structure was not an approved place of worship, but an illegal structure that had been described to council as a storeroom.
“It’s not a temple but an illegal structure like a storeroom which they said was used to store their materials, not a church. The structure did not have any approval from council,” he said.
However, members of the Muslim community disputed the characterisation, saying the building was not a storeroom and had served as their place of worship for about 17 years.
They said the Masjid had also evolved into a community facility, providing, among other services, free access to water from a borehole to residents in the surrounding area.
According to Sheikh Chipara, chairman of the Chipinge Muslim community, the community had previously made efforts to secure land for a formal place of worship but had been unsuccessful.
He said the latest application was made in 2024, when the community was advised to purchase a stand for about US$56 000.
“We were once given a place to apply but it cost $56 000, which is a lot of money to raise given the small number of Muslim families we have in Chipinge,” he said.
Sheikh Chipara said the community was not seeking preferential treatment, but equal and affordable access to land on which to establish a formal place of worship.
The community is also questioning the manner in which the demolition was carried out, alleging that council officials did not give them sufficient notice to remove their belongings and religious materials before the structure was demolished.
Community members said copies of the Quran were reportedly still inside the Masjid when the demolition took place.
“All we ask for is for the city council to have given us time, rather than demolishing the structure with Qurans in it. Most importantly, it is raining these days. This means we will not have a place to worship,” Mr Chipara said.
For nearly two decades, the small structure had served more than just as a place for daily prayers.
“We have about 30 plus families that pray at the Masjid. It was a place where families would uplift themselves spiritually,” Mr Chipara said.
Sheikh Tapera said the Masjid also played a wider social role in the community, including providing access to water through its borehole to both Muslims and non-Muslims.
With the structure now demolished, the Muslim community says it has been left without a place of worship, raising concerns about where congregants will conduct prayers, particularly during the current rainy season.
Sheikh Chipara said they remained ready to engage Council so that an affordable and legal place of worship is available for the Muslim community.
