Herald Reporter
CHAPLAINS of Zimbabwe is seeking to expand specialised chaplaincy services into the sporting and agricultural sectors as part of a broader drive to provide professional emotional, spiritual and pastoral support to people beyond traditional church settings.
The organisation says it is pursuing partnerships with the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), national sports associations, sporting federations, clubs and individual teams to strengthen athlete welfare through its Sports Teams Chaplaincy programme.
Chaplains of Zimbabwe, founded by Bishop Dr Christopher Choto, provides multi-faith chaplaincy and pastoral care services across a range of sectors, including education, healthcare, justice, emergency response, tourism and hospitality, farming and sport.
Bishop Choto, who is also President and CEO of the Zimbabwe Christian Ministers Association, said sports chaplaincy could play an important role in supporting athletes as they navigate the pressures associated with competitive sport.
“Sport is not only about what happens on the field. Athletes are human beings who experience pressure, disappointment, injuries and personal challenges. They need someone who can walk with them through both the victories and the difficult moments,” he said.
Under the proposed model, trained sports chaplains would provide support during training camps and competitions, including national and international events, while offering pastoral and emotional assistance before and after matches.
The programme would also provide support to athletes dealing with injuries, sporting defeats, pressure and other personal challenges, as well as promote emotional resilience, positive team relationships and general wellbeing.
Bishop Choto said the service would be deliberately multi-faith and inclusive, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of Zimbabwean athletes.
“Our sports teams are made up of people from different faith backgrounds, as well as people who do not identify with any faith. They all need encouragement, dignity, hope and appropriate support,” he said.
“Chaplaincy must therefore be professional and multi-faith, respecting the beliefs and choices of every individual.”
He said chaplaincy should not be viewed as a service reserved for moments of celebration.
“An athlete who loses a competition still needs encouragement, dignity and hope. The role of a chaplain is not only to celebrate victory, but also to stand with people during disappointment and difficult moments,” Bishop Choto said.
The proposed expansion comes as Chaplains of Zimbabwe continues to develop specialised forms of chaplaincy, with the organisation describing professional training as central to ensuring that practitioners understand the particular demands of the environments in which they operate.
Recent practical training undertaken by the organisation has included exposure to justice, correctional and healthcare settings, with Bishop Choto stressing that chaplaincy requires specialised preparation rather than simply transferring conventional pastoral ministry into institutional environments.
Agriculture targeted
The organisation is also seeking to extend specialised chaplaincy support to farmers, farm workers and agricultural communities through its Farmers and Agriculture Chaplaincy programme.
Agriculture remains central to Zimbabwe’s economy and livelihoods, but farming communities continue to face challenges associated with drought, changing weather patterns, production uncertainty, financial pressures and other operational difficulties.
Chaplains of Zimbabwe says its agricultural chaplaincy training is intended to equip practitioners with an understanding of the distinctive pressures faced by people working in the sector.
Bishop Choto said difficulties experienced on farms could have consequences extending beyond production and income.
“When a farmer faces drought, uncertainty or crop failure, the impact goes beyond the farm. It affects families, workers, livelihoods and entire communities,” he said.
“We want chaplains who understand these realities and can provide appropriate support.”
The proposed agricultural services include emotional and spiritual support for farmers and farm workers, pastoral care for families and workplaces, assistance during difficult agricultural seasons and emergencies, and programmes aimed at strengthening resilience and hope in farming communities.
The organisation is expected to explore partnerships with farmers’ associations, agricultural institutions, commercial farming organisations, rural communities and other stakeholders.
Building specialised professionals
The expansion of chaplaincy services is being supported by training through the School of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care, which offers practice-oriented programmes designed to prepare practitioners for different professional and institutional environments.
Chaplains of Zimbabwe says specialised training is necessary because different sectors present distinct professional, ethical and pastoral requirements.
“Chaplaincy is not a one-size-fits-all ministry. Different environments require specialised knowledge, appropriate skills and an understanding of the particular needs of the people being served,” Bishop Choto said.
The organisation is preparing for a graduation and ordination ceremony scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2026, with the graduating class including practitioners trained in Professional Education Chaplaincy Practice, Professional Civic Chaplaincy Practice, Professional VIP and Executive Chaplaincy Practice, and Professional Tourism and Hospitality Chaplaincy Practice.
The move follows the organisation’s broader push to develop professionally trained chaplains capable of serving in specialised environments. Its official material currently lists a range of services, including sports teams chaplaincy and farming chaplaincy.
Bishop Choto said the organisation’s objective was to ensure that chaplaincy remained relevant to the realities facing Zimbabweans in different workplaces and communities.
“Our work is not confined to church buildings. It is about serving humanity wherever the need exists,” he said.
Chaplaincy and national development
Chaplains of Zimbabwe says its expansion is intended to complement national development efforts by addressing the human and social dimensions of development.
The organisation says it is open to working with Government ministries and departments, local authorities, sporting bodies, agricultural institutions, rehabilitation centres, private organisations, civil society and other development partners.
Bishop Choto said economic development needed to be accompanied by attention to the wellbeing and resilience of citizens.
“Zimbabwe’s development journey must be accompanied by the development and wellbeing of its people. We want to see chaplaincy contributing wherever people need care, encouragement, hope and support,” he said.
The organisation’s model is centred on collaboration with existing institutions rather than replacing established professional services, with trained chaplains expected to operate within defined professional responsibilities and limitations.
Chaplains of Zimbabwe says the long-term objective is to contribute to a society in which people are not only economically empowered, but are also emotionally supported, spiritually cared for, socially responsible and hopeful about the future.
