Online Reporter
Nokuthaba Brita Ncube
THE Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ)’s Bulawayo city centre parish took to the streets on Thursday in a spirited march to raise awareness about drug and substance abuse, particularly among young people.
Held under the theme “Working towards a cleaner, drug-free future,” the event forms part of a wider church-led initiative to complement Government efforts to curb the alarming rise in drug use.
The march drew enthusiastic participation mainly from the church’s youth ministry and was organised in collaboration with the Lutheran Development Service (LDS), the church’s development arm, and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC).
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, ELCZ Western Diocese leader Bishop Michael Dube described drug abuse as a “demon” destroying the future of both young people and the nation at large.
“We are gathered as a church, especially with the youth, to campaign against drug and substance abuse, which is a demon ravaging our children and communities. As a church, we are part of society and cannot remain on the sidelines. We must unite and play our part,” he said.
Bishop Dube emphasised that the campaign is rooted in biblical teachings, particularly from the Book of Numbers, which call upon communities to take action in times of crisis. He noted that this was not the church’s first such initiative, pointing to a similar march recently held by the Bulawayo East parish.
“We are continuously engaging young people on this issue. Our goal is to eradicate drug abuse so that our youth and communities can thrive,” he said.
In addition to awareness efforts, the church is addressing the root causes of drug dependency. Bishop Dube revealed plans to establish a skills training centre in Zezani, Beitbridge District, to empower youth who are unable to pursue formal education. The centre will offer vocational skills training, such as carpentry, sewing and other trades, in partnership with relevant Government ministries.
Ms Shekinah Banda, Youth General Secretary of the ELCZ Luther League Junior Fellowship, said the youth ministry is determined to lead the conversation both within and outside the church.
“We have realised that if we as the church do not address this issue, we are leaving it to the world to do so. We want to take responsibility,” she said.
Ms Banda added that various church groups, including Vashandiri, Manyanyo and Zvapupu, as well as branches from other cities are backing the initiative. Plans are also underway to roll out educational workshops throughout Bulawayo in the coming months.
The church’s dean, Mr Nkosikhona Dube, described drug abuse as a pandemic and reaffirmed the ELCZ’s commitment to taking an active role in raising awareness and supporting affected individuals.
“We are making it our responsibility as a church to inform the community and help those who are addicted. Our hope is to see lives restored and young people freed from the grip of this crisis,” he said.
Zimbabwe has witnessed a disturbing increase in drug and substance abuse, particularly among urban youth. In response, Government, civil society, and faith-based organisations are intensifying efforts to combat the crisis through education, rehabilitation, and law enforcement.
