Online Reporter
Online Reporter
Churches should be helped in improving their infrastructure and operations so that they can play a pivotal role in the country’s fight against drugs and substance abuse among the youths, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Tino Machakaire has said.
Minister Machakaire said this yesterday while addressing the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe’s Seke East congregation in Chitungwiza, where he was guest of honour at the church’s fundraising event for the construction of a church building.
The minister, who was accompanied by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, pledged to provide all the roofing material for the church building, which is now at roof level.
“Church members need to worship God in a nice place, and I am chipping in using my personal resources so that even those youths who are into drugs can get a place to go for good advice to better their lives and improve our country.
“Good deeds are taught in the church, and I will make sure that I help them with what they have requested,” he said.
Minister Machakaire also appealed to those who can help churches in the country to do so, as they are a source of good morals.
“It is a good thing to help the churches, and I urge councils to help them so that they can build better places of worship. Even our laws should be lenient to the churches so that they can grow.”
The resident pastor at RCZ Seke East, Reverend Joseph Zindoga said he was grateful for the Government’s support to all churches.
“Our Government has done well in ensuring freedom of worship as enshrined in our Constitution, and as a church, we will play our part in supporting its efforts in the area of youth empowerment and the fight against drugs and substance abuse,” he said.
The chairperson for the RCZ Seke East resource mobilisation committee, Mr Tsungirirai Jeche thanked the minister for his kind gesture and thanked President Mnangagwa for ensuring freedom of worship in the country.
“We are very grateful to Minister Machakaire and our patron, Chief Secretary Dr Rushwaya, for the support they are giving us as a church.
“But I want to give a big thank you to our President, Dr Mnangagwa, because if it was not for his good leadership, these men would not have been here today,” said Mr Jeche.
