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Rejoyce Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter

YOUTHS from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) Bulawayo East Parish on Saturday marched to raise public awareness against drug and substance abuse.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe Anti-drug Campaign

The event was held at ELCZ Tshabalala Chapel.
Youths carrying banners with anti-drug messages marched together with bishops, pastors and church members from Tshabalala to Sizinda.

Organisations such as the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Bulawayo Youth Drive, Active Youths Zimbabwe, Mandipa Hope Rehabilitation Centre, ZRP CID Drugs and Narcotics Unit joined the march.

Illicit drugs

Zimbabwe is witnessing an upsurge in drug abuse cases and most of those abusing drugs are young people.
Following President Mnangagwa’s appeal for churches to complement Government efforts in the fight against drugs and substance abuse among youths, many churches are holding awareness campaigns.

ELCZ Bulawayo East Parish pastor Reverend Mbongeni Dube said communities are wounded by drugs as the negative impact of drugs on the youths has a negative bearing on families, schools and churches.

Rev Dube said because of drugs, youths end up not listening or respecting their parents and guardians.
“If we all agree that our communities are wounded then we must join hands and fight drug abuse.

We need good Samaritans, the people who are concerned about the wounds of the community, organisations that seek to bandage the wounds of our societies and churches that are ready to prioritise the wounded over their spiritualism like in the book of Luke chapter 10 in the parable of the good Samaritan,” he said.

Rev Dube urged churches to learn from the parable and not neglect their social responsibilities.
ELCZ Bulawayo East Parish Youth chairperson Miss Buhle Bhebhe said the main objective of the march is to raise awareness.
She said the campaign emphasises the need to prevent drug and substance abuse.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe Anti-drug Campaign

“We hope that this campaign will indeed encourage other people who influence the lives of youth such as teachers, mentors, coaches and even parents to join the fight against drug abuse,” said Miss Bhebhe.

Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) executive director Reverend Useni Sibanda said the organisation just like other stakeholders is concerned about the upsurge in cases of drug abuse. He said churches should work hard to turn the tide given their advantage of numbers.

“ZCA is working with schools and universities on its anti-drug campaigns and is grooming students and pupils to be the campaign champions. We hope that such a campaign will raise awareness and save many of our young people from this scourge,” said Rev Sibanda.

He said President Mnangagwa has taken the lead by repeatedly calling for stakeholders to work together to eradicate the menace. — @ReeSibanda