Zimbabwe: Church Union Takes Lead In Empowering Youth for Peace and Development

By Nevison Mpofu

Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations [ZHOCD] has taken active and striven support and zenith dedication towards youth empowerment in-order to promote peace and development in the country. A one day syllogized conference held in Harare on the agenda of empowerment of youth for peace and development held clear objectives on enhancing understanding of the National Youth Service and its role in promoting peace and Development.

Gabriel Kandewo CCJPZ [Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace Zimbabwe ] National Programs Manager at the National office in Harare pointed out that the role of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference [ ZCBC] which is under Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations is merely to promote peace and development for the sake of strengthening social and economic development. He told the African regional newspaper, Pan-African-Visions on Friday end of last week in Harare.

‘’The role of the church organization is bent on promoting peace and development. This, we do in-order to strengthen and leverage social and economic development. At the same time this creates employment opportunities for youth. This workshop as well dwelled on supporting Government initiatives on youth empowerment , hence why we had stakeholders from the Ministry of Youth as well’’

‘’ As church organization, we play a pivotal role to equip youth with knowledge and skills on peace-building, conflict resolution and sustainable development. We then gathered ZHOCD youth in-order to take an inter-face dialogue and collaboration among youth so that they gain capacity building meant to build a better Zimbabwe , a peaceful country bent on social and economic development.’’

Gabriel Kandewo speaking on be-half of the whole organization expressed that expert presentations, group discussions, case-studies and interactive sessions are meant to un-pack National Youth Service. He further on said it is vital then to un-pack National Youth Service, its potential and the need and importance of youth empowerment in the country

‘’We had expert presentations, group discussions, case-studies and interactive sessions all of which opened eyes to all those capacitated towards peace building. It is there-fore important that we explore collaborative opportunities and identify areas for ZHOCD support and partnership. In other words we strengthen relationships and net-works among ZHOCD youth.’’

The vibrant church organization works with all people regardless their creed to raise awareness and advocate for Government to take care of the environment , the poor , all those disadvantaged and vulnerable . He further pointed out the issue of common good promotion in-order to support policies towards social and economic development.

‘’We work with all people. We raise awareness and advocate for Government to take care of the, environment and the people. Our goal, vision and mission is to achieve results of peace and development through solidarity. Our teaching to young people are just simple and straight, let us build a Zimbabwe, a nation build by peace for development’’.

‘’Empowered youth have vision towards economic development. There-fore we amplify voices. Our main area of focus as well is Environment and youth. We do this for the sake of preserving species and conserving natural resources and at the same time try by all means fight water based conflicts. All this goes well if we work with the Government to implement policies which build up on peace and sustainable development’’.

Dr Leorcadia Shayamunda an Environmentalist said the era of climate change is making it hard for young people to come up with life let alone flow of poverty and vulnerability which affects young people. Young people were urged to take lead in addressing issues that affect them brought forward by the adversity of climate change in today’s world.

‘’I urge young people to take lead in fighting climate change. It has brought adverse effects which cause extreme poverty and vulnerability of many people. However, the young people remain at the fore-front as leaders of tomorrow. They must remain resilient against diverse effects of climate change. Young people must be capacitated, equipped and skilled in being resilient against climate change effects’’.

‘’The environment remains important, so it is important to train young people so that they manage the environment for the good of themselves. The world has changed at a time water challenges and basic natural resources are becoming scarce. It is therefore important to replenish these through youth programs which ends in producing sustainability of the environment for the common good of the nation ‘’, she pointed out expressing further the importance of policies in preserving and conserving the natural environment.

As a chain of challenges remain clanged in the circles of people’s lives, young people have turned to drug and substance abuse of which Dr Alois Madhekeni took a strong swipe pointing out that many young people, youth have lost touch with real life issues that can make them become better leaders of tomorrow. He made clear points that youth are living in an era of difficulties but they have to abstain from drugs and substances.

Discussants at the one day symposium blame leaders, affluent people as well. They are pointed fingers as those who cause problems in our communities. They feed youth with all sorts of drugs they procure so that they distribute them. They get and gain dirty money at the expense of youth. At the end of the day they pretend, they are clean yet sundry problems have emanated from their opulent behaviors and aggrandized life-styles.

Youth and women remain heavily burdened. Women have the task to gather resources, water and do all house/ home chores. It means then, they need to understand climate change so that they can be resilient towards harsh effects of climate that continues to change every day.

Speaking on stage Dr Regina Makoni a Gender Expert pointed clearly that in the adversity of climate change, women remain at the fore front hard affected. Together with youth, teenagers have felt the sharp blunt effects of harsh life conditions which are challenges of water and basic natural resources for survival.

The youth conference held at a local hotel in Harare was under auspices of Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations [ZHOCD] which houses Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference [ZCBC] Zimbabwe Council of Churches [ZCC] which works with Methodist and Roman Catholic Church, UDACIZA for Apostolic people and Evangelical group which houses churches like ZAOGA.