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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
Churches are considered critical in the fight against gender-based violence, a development that has prompted a community development organisation, Arise and Shine, to embark on a programme to capacitate church leaders so they can assist in controlling the menace.
The Victoria Falls-based organisation recently conducted a workshop on GBV reporting and management, as part of efforts to empower religious leaders with skills to help reduce, if not eliminate, cases of domestic violence. The workshop was attended by 43 pastors and their spouses under the banner of the Pastors’ Fraternity.
The meeting was part of Arise and Shine’s commemorations of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, which ran from November 25 to December 10.
Pastors were capacitated in dealing with domestic violence, conflict management, stress management, parenthood and child management.
Speaking on behalf of Arise and Shine, Reverend Travena Chichoni of the Methodist Revival church said the workshop was a success as it capacitated church leaders to be able to deal with social issues that affect congregants.
“It was our commemoration of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence with the pastor’s fraternity of Victoria Falls. As a private voluntary organisation, which has a mental wellness programme, we partake in the 16 days of GBV activism and our target is to have zero cases of gender-based violence by 2030,” he said.
The workshop drew 43 pastors from the Victoria Falls Pastor’s Fraternity.
A life coach, Rev Chichoni, made a presentation on domestic violence where she encouraged citizens to live in harmony.
“The workshop on GBV was for leaders and their spouses, and covered areas around the causes and on how to prevent it. Arise and Shine for Community Development wanted to empower the leaders with tools to fight GBV and several topics to do with domestic violence were presented by experts in the field of social work,” she said.
Social officer Ms Nomagugu Nyoni made a presentation on conflict management during which she said citizens, particularly spouses, must seek better ways of managing conflict.
Ms Eveline Masenga, a participant, said managing conflict helped manage and prevent stress, two key focus areas in mental health issues.
Other areas of discussion were on parenthood presented by Mrs Sarudzai Nekatambe, wife of Chief Nekatambe while Ms Juliana Muskwe, said there is a need to invest in programmes and activities that empower families including children.
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