Story by Fairstars Mukungurutse
THE church has affirmed a renewed commitment to addressing escalating social ills such as drug and substance abuse.
Representatives from indigenous and Zionist churches under the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) convened in Epworth for a three-day conference focusing on women leaders and their critical role in promoting religious and cultural practices that bestow value and dignity on communities.
This comes in the wake of heightened cases of drug abuse, gender-based violence and teen pregnancies.
“The main thrust of the conference is to uplift women and mould a morally upright person. To address the rot which has befallen society, it starts with women. As mothers, we are role models, our children look up to us for moral guidance. We have a role to play in ensuring the younger generation continues to uphold good moral values,” ACCZ’s chairperson Mrs Milka Chigwevere said.
“We are happy to see women teaching each other how to raise a morally upright generation. Children spend more time with their mothers, so they learn a lot from their mothers. We encourage women to participate in the fight against drug abuse because drugs have destroyed our children. As Bishops, we are also praying against moral decadence so that we have a drug and GBV-free society. Societal redress should start from the church because we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world,” ACCZ National Chairman Bishop Lifet Mugaviri added.
Communities were urged to desist from advancing social norms that inhibit women’s participation in all aspects of development.
