Story by Mhlomuli Ncube
Government has lauded church-run rehabilitation programmes in Matabeleland North which are giving young former drug addicts a second chance.
Matabeleland North province has been pushing the anti-drugs campaign on various fronts, giving young people vocational training skills even for those coming out of rehabilitation.
“We realised that if we don’t address this scourge earth, we will lose our youth. As a church , we are not just dealing with faith issues but also addressing needs within our communities,” said Faith in God Ministries’ Pastor Talent Mpofu.
“We were inspired by what we saw within our area to say, let’s do something. And we are interested in seeing change above all things by strengthening our anti-drugs campaigns,” added Overseer Emmanuel Hove.
There is appreciation from government that the efforts are yielding positive results.
Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Richard Moyo said, “We are working well with organisations. We are also happy that as part of the rehabilitation, this church is building a vocational training centre right here there we are standing.”
Far from just looking at drugs and substance abuse statistics, the Hwange community has come to a point where most people want to see the scourge totally eliminated.
