Police in Mozambique's southern district of Zavala have arrested a pastor for allegedly violating crowd control measures imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Pastor Relva Guambe of the Apostolic Union Zion Church and his assistant, Salomao Bie, are accused of holding a religious ceremony that was attended by more than 300 people.

The event, which reportedly involved the slaughtering of cows and chicken, was held in Lichanga village supposedly in tribute to local ancestors.

According to Friday's edition of the Noticias newspaper, the police were called in to disperse the gathering and a judge formalised the detention of Mr Guambe and Mr Bie on Tuesday.

Mozambique has confirmed 46 cases of Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus.