HARARE-Youths drawn from various assemblies under the United African Faith Church (UAFC) recently held a three-day conference aimed at tackling drug abuse and early marriages among young people. The conference, held in Stoneridge, brought together young congregants to engage on the growing social challenges affecting youths. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, one of the organisers, Stewart Marufu, a medical professional, expressed concern over the rise in drug abuse, noting that it has significantly worsened mental health problems among youths.
“We found it prudent to hold this conference at a time when drug abuse has escalated and is contributing to serious mental health challenges among young people,” said Marufu. Marufu also cautioned young girls against engaging in early sexual activity, which often results in early marriages. “One of our key messages was to discourage young girls from early marriages and instead encourage them to focus on empowering themselves, so that marriage is not viewed as the only escape from poverty,” he added.
Mupfurutsa further highlighted that drug abuse is also fuelling domestic violence within communities. UAFC is among several indigenous churches complementing government efforts to combat drug abuse and early child marriages. In August, the church hosted a women’s conference where similar issues were addressed.
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Meanwhile, the final day of the conference coincided with the birthday celebrations of the church’s founder, Archbishop Busani Sibanda. The event was marked by pomp and fanfare as congregants took time to appreciate and celebrate their leader
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