Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
THE Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Mafara District, adjusted its Sabbath programme on Saturday to join efforts in the fight against drug and substance abuse.
Communities in Tafara and Mabvuku joined SDA officials in a march through the streets before gathering at Kamunhu Shopping Centre.
The event was led by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service Brass Band.
The district church leadership said the planned weekly Sabbath activities were scaled down to focus on the fight against drug abuse.
District church leader, Pastor Isaac Mashinya, said the church decided to commemorate Global Youth Day with a campaign aimed at raising awareness on drugs and substance abuse.
“We join other nations in commemorating Global Youth Day. We are using this day to carry out an awareness campaign against drug and substance abuse,” Pastor Mashinya said.
Dr Elliot Freddy Chikati urged church leaders to consider turning places of worship into rehabilitation support centres.
“Mental health has gone deeper than many people think and church members are not spared.
“If church leaders consider turning worship places into rehabilitation centres, then victims of drug abuse will be treated as patients—people who require constant monitoring and care.
“There is hope for victims of drug and substance abuse.
“Let us handle them with love, because nothing is impossible before God,” he said.
He commended the Angel of Hope Rehabilitation Centre, established by First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, saying it has helped transform lives.
“We continue to thank our First Lady for establishing a free rehabilitation centre in Mbare.
“It has brought change to a number of victims,” Dr Chikati said.
A team from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Drugs and Narcotics, led by Detective Assistant Inspector Tendai Muchengi, challenged church leaders to closely monitor behaviour among members.
