ACTIVE participation in the government’s developmental and empowerment programmes has been described as a key driver for sustainable growth and transformation, with Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) church members being urged to take advantage of opportunities available under various policies.
This call was made during the SDA Church annual camp meeting in Nyamandlovu, Matabeleland North Province, where thousands of congregants gathered for a seven-day spiritual retreat that also featured business and empowerment sessions.
Several attendees shared their takeaways from the meeting’s business sessions, expressing newfound motivation to pursue entrepreneurship and farming.
“It is one thing to hear about these programmes on the news, but it’s different when you hear it from fellow church members who are already succeeding. It gives you confidence that it is possible for us too. As young people, we have energy and ideas. I now realise that I must take advantage of the Land Tenure Implementation Programme to begin something tangible. I have always wanted to be a farmer, but I thought it was too difficult to get started. Hearing from people who have done it, and knowing the government is making it easier, gives me hope. This meeting has motivated me. The speakers showed us that faith and hard work can go hand in hand, and that our efforts can benefit not just our families, but the whole community,” an SDA church member said.
Mr Jairos Mahlangu, a successful cattle breeder, emphasised that while the government is creating a favourable environment for youth to access land, the responsibility lies with them to seize these opportunities.
“Why we took this message to the church is that 90 percent of our population is Christian, and this was an opportunity to talk about empowerment programmes that are being availed by the government so that people can make a living through farming. We need to make use of the land that we have, be it a communal setup or A2, to improve our communities, and what I have seen is that the government is willing to work with communities that are doing something to empower themselves,” he noted.
Local entrepreneur, Mr Xolani Dube, said church members should not be passive observers of economic development.
“We have to appreciate what the government has done for the people of Zimbabwe in the form of land reform, and now we are in the land tenure phase, where we have to learn to be self-sustainable. The youth are our tomorrow, and we are looking to them to improve our economy. We are citizens of this country and should actively participate in government programmes. People should not fold their hands because they are in the church, let us take an initiative that will benefit generations to come,” he added.
The second republic remains committed to empowering citizens through a wide range of programmes, including the ongoing Land Tenure Implementation Programme, which seeks to provide security of land ownership and encourage productivity as part of a broader drive to ensure inclusive growth, food security and sustainable national development.
