Hwange – Church leaders have been urged to partner with professional counsellors and rehabilitation officers in the fight against drug and substance abuse, which has been described as one of the gravest social challenges facing Zimbabwe today.
Speaking during the Matabeleland North Provincial commemoration of the International Day of Peace, held under the theme “Act Now for a Peaceful World”, Reverend Promise Ngulube of the Methodist Church said while prayer remained vital, some drug abuse cases required specialist intervention.
“The church leaders need to engage psychological support and rehabilitation officers when dealing with drug and substance cases. We know we are prayerful, but some cases need professional help,” Rev Ngulube said.
Leaders at the event noted the devastating effects of drug and substance abuse on young people, women, and persons with disabilities, warning that the scourge had far-reaching consequences for family life, public safety, and national development.
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe chairperson, Pastor James Sibanda — representing the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations — described the problem as a threat to peace and community well-being.
“Drug and substance abuse is notably devastating. Its impact on young people, women, and persons with disabilities is severe, with far-reaching consequences. Unchecked drug dependency fuels violence, increases health risks, and traps communities in cycles of poverty and hopelessness,” Pastor Sibanda said.
He emphasised that churches must be more than just places of worship, serving instead as sanctuaries of healing, hope, and transformation. “As faith leaders, we must guide our youth away from destructive habits and offer them pathways toward dignity and purpose,” he added.
Pastor Sibanda called for stronger collaboration between the church, government, civil society, and international partners to expand public education campaigns on the dangers of drugs, strengthen community rehabilitation and counselling services, promote skills training and recreational opportunities for youth, and enforce laws against trafficking and illicit distribution.
The event was attended by representatives from the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), Union for Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe Africa (UDACIZA), Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC), and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC).
Proceedings began with a solidarity march from Hwange’s central business district to the Methodist Church in Number 1 Village, symbolising unity in the fight for peace, justice, and a drug-free society.
