Africa-Press – Botswana. Religious leaders have pledged to work with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in the war against drug and substance abuse which are a threat to human health and welfare.
Contributing during a meeting organised by DEA on Sunday, to engage members of Maun Ministers Fraternal on the issue and discuss how best to work together to address the matter, members acknowledged that the issue was a serious concern with overwhelming effects on social and economic development.
Members of the Minister’s Fraternal vowed to join forces with government, to sensitise the public and facilitate rehabilitation because drug abuse not only posed a threat to health but adversely affected the economic, cultural and political foundations of society as well.
“While we appreciate that rehabilitation centres are limited, we believe that churches are the right places for rehabilitation centres as they can provide the much needed support to people affected by drug addiction,” said Maun Ministers Fraternal chairperson, Prophet Thato Elias. He said that they were ready to support the agency and ensure the issue was dealt with.
As religious leaders, he said they were equally concerned about drug and substance abuse because every household had someone battling addiction, particularly the youth. Prophet Elias who is also a pastor of Saving Grace Church and a health practitioner by profession said in the health sector, they classified drugs as hallucinogens because of their ability to change the way people see, feel and think. The vice chairperson of Maun Minister’s Fraternal who is also a pastor at Rivers of Life Church, Reverend Dr George Banda said as faith based organisations, they were willing to be part of the solution to challenges faced by the society.
Church buildings, he said were available for goodwill and urged DEA to take pastors as key stakeholders in healing the nation as they did when fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
“We pledge to partner with DEA, to disseminate the message on anti- drugs.
Drugs are our enemy and as the church, we believe a day will come where homes and schools will be clean again. No parent will be seen selling drugs and borders will be closed to drug dealers,” he added. Reverend Dr Banda said as churches, they had also embraced the Mindset Change concept to become change agents and their fellow congregations were committed to preach change and protect society.
He appealed to those selling drugs in the pretext of survival to stop because they destroyed innocent lives. Ms Resego stated that at Saving Grace Church, they housed 12 young people who were addicted to drugs, to try and rehabilitate the. She said churches were good places to offer best assistance and offer battling addiction love and support so that they could achieve their dreams. For his part, director of from DEA’s public education director, Pastor Motshereganyi Sefanyetso said the fight against drug abuse required a multi-sectoral approach.
He appreciated the pastors pledge because they believed that churches should take in the fight against drugs. Pastor Sefanyetso urged the community to report those selling drugs to relevant officials.
The meeting formed part of the activation towards the launch of Anti-Drug Campaign in Maun on April 19, to reaffirm government’s commitment to fight drugs.
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