Andile Tshuma, Zimpapers Writer
THE Council of Churches in Africa (CCA) has pledged to mobilise religious leaders across the country in support of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission’s (ZGC) 90-day campaign against gender-based violence (GBV), as efforts to promote safe and healthy family relationships gather momentum.
The campaign, spearheaded by the ZGC in collaboration with the Government and other stakeholders, seeks to tackle intimate partner violence (IPV) through coordinated interventions targeting abuse in homes and communities.
The church’s commitment adds to multi-sectoral efforts to prevent GBV, with faith-based organisations expected to play a key role in raising awareness, supporting affected families and promoting positive social values.
CCA president Bishop Dr Rocky Moyo said the church had a responsibility to speak out against abuse and create an environment where families could seek assistance without fear or stigma.
He said the council had launched a nationwide engagement drive to equip clergy with the skills to identify, prevent and respond to intimate partner violence within their congregations.
“The church must be a refuge, not a site of silent suffering. We are fully behind the Government and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission’s 90-day campaign. As religious leaders, we hold a sacred responsibility to ensure that our pulpits promote peace, mutual respect, and love within homes.”
As part of its interventions, the CCA has introduced an Ambassadorship Programme aimed at strengthening links between churches and community welfare services.
Under the initiative, appointed church ambassadors facilitate professional counselling for affected families, identify households at risk and provide early-intervention support.
The council is also organising couples’ meetings across communities to provide safe spaces for partners to discuss marital challenges, receive guidance and work towards resolving conflicts.
Bishop Moyo said traditional African values and Christian teachings could complement each other in promoting family stability and resolving domestic disputes.
He urged Christian couples not to abandon their cultural heritage, highlighting the traditional roles of abadala, obabakazi, ogogo and labomalume in family mediation and conflict resolution.
He said the erosion of indigenous values and traditional support systems had contributed to challenges affecting marriages and community cohesion.
“Many marriages and communities today are in shambles because people are completely replacing their roots, identity, and cultural wisdom with selective interpretations of the Bible,” he said.
“Our traditional values, such as the role of aunties and uncles in mediation, worked for generations to preserve family unity. Culture and church doctrines are not enemies; they must complement each other if we are to restore stability to our homes.”
The CCA said it would continue engaging religious leaders and communities to strengthen efforts to prevent IPV and promote healthy family relationships.
The council’s pledge comes as the ZGC-led 90-day campaign seeks to strengthen collective action against GBV, highlighting the importance of collaboration among Government institutions, religious organisations and communities in addressing abuse.
