The Sunday Mail
Tariro Charandura
RELIGIOUS leaders have been urged to conduct anti-Aids and gender based violence campaigns in their respective churches and communities.
World Vision National Gender Coordinator, Dr Madrine Chiku, said they were targeting pastors to be on the forefront of the program as people had spiritual, social and psychological needs.
“The program is mainly being done to empower religious leader so that they can also empower other people on issues concerning gender based violence (GBV), HIV and AIDS. People believe in supernatural healing in churches and pastors do not normally speak on AIDS and GBV. This virus is the pandemic causing mortality.”
Dr Chiku said Christians must be fully packaged for the spiritual and physical life.
“Gender based violence is very real and if the churches do not speak on it, then it means that people are being deprived of a certain right. Even the Bible says my people perish because of lack of knowledge.
“We have decided to join our hands together with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the four mother bodies of the churches which include Union of the Development of the African and Zionist Churches in Zimbabwe, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Catholics Bishops Conference.
“So generally we have put aside our theological beliefs and put our heads together despite the fact that one is Pentecostal, Apostolic or from the main stream churches because we are all God’s children,” she said.
Pastors were taken through issues related to infant mortality, HIV and Aids as well as GBV.
“HIV and Aids deaths were at 41 percent last year and that is why we are holding this seminar because no increase should be recorded given that we have empowered these pastors,” said Dr Chiku
Headman Chombo, who is also an apostolic sect leader in Chihota district said, “It is so unfortunate that the issues raised are still happening in our communities, especially in rural areas. Gender based violence and infant mortality still calls for concern and we are grateful for a program such as this one because we are now equipped. As religious leaders, we are now going to raise awareness.”
