Story by Tichaona Kurewa
APOSTOLIC church leaders in Matabeleland North Province are mobilising their congregants to seek medical care, a significant step forward in Zimbabwe’s drive toward achieving universal health coverage by 2030.
Historically, some apostolic sects discouraged medical treatment, favouring spiritual healing even in cases involving life-threatening conditions.
However, in a major shift from past practices and attitudes, the Johane Masowe eChishanu Church is now conducting health awareness campaigns across the province.
To date, outreach activities have been held in Hwange, Tsholotsho, and most recently, Lupane, where a major health mobilisation drive was conducted this Sunday.
Church members who attended the campaign praised the initiative.
“This is a great initiative, especially for us women. We can now seek medical care without fear of discrimination,” a congregant said.
“We appreciate this gathering. It gave us a chance to consult and learn directly from both medical professionals and our church leaders,” a church member said.
“We are thankful for the medical facilities in our province and commend ongoing efforts to upgrade and modernise them,” another congregant said.
Madzibaba Thembelani Dube, a senior leader in the Johane Masowe eChishanu Church, emphasised the importance of combining faith with early medical intervention.
“We are continuing with awareness campaigns to educate our congregants on the importance of seeking medical attention at hospitals and clinics. We have found that many members come to church with chronic conditions like cancer and TB at advanced stages, hoping for spiritual healing alone. Today’s message is clear, while spiritual support is important, early medical intervention saves lives,” he said.
Mr Thandolwenkosi Nyoni, Chairperson of the Lupane Local Board, welcomed the initiative.
“As the Lupane Local Board, we welcome this important gathering, which has brought together various Masowe churches to promote the importance of health care. We acknowledge that many of our people previously relied solely on spiritual healing. These efforts are shifting mindsets,” he said.
The campaign aligns with government efforts, supported by development partners, to build new health facilities and upgrade existing infrastructure.
These initiatives form part of the broader strategy to ensure accessible, affordable, and inclusive healthcare for all Zimbabweans by Vision 2030.
