Chiefs and Local Peace Committee pioneers sports for peace initiative
The Gweru Local Peace Committee hosted a spectacular event that saw youths in Chiwundura participating in an anti-drug and violence sports event.
The event which was carried out in June attracted youths from across four wards. It was hosted by the Local chiefs in partnership with the Gweru Local Peace committee (LPC).
The event pioneered a unique initiative that possibly marked the beginning of a new era in Chiwundura towards peace building and peace transformation. The community leaders expressed their concerns over the increase of youth violence under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
“We requested the local Political party youth area chairpersons to mobilize young men from their political parties to participate in the sports day, with one stone we hit two birds,” said Chief Chiwundura.
The chief reiterated that the initiative will also help political tolerance since the main political party youths participated in the first game.
In 2023 the Presidential harmonized elections are set to take place sometime in winter. In the past the country braced itself for a wave of political violence that intensified as the elections get closer.
This year the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) peace committees have embarked on community political stakeholders’ inclusive initiatives set to reshape and address conflicts that have resulted in violence.
The Nkayi Local Peace committee also launched what they dubbed the Chiefs peace football trophy. Youth football teams from Gwitshi, Duhamzondo, Zinyangeni, Guwe and Nkayi Centre participated in dubby where the champion was the most peaceful team.
Chief Nkalakatha (Zwelani Ayanda Ndeweni) of Nkayi officiated the day- long tournament. The exhilarating tournament inspired youth women bystanders and supporters to carry out a proxy netball tournament.
“Nkayi has been facing challenges of artisanal mining violence in some of the areas and some clashes have been fatal and even claiming the lives of young Nkayi dwellers, I have used this platform to address this issue during the break before the final match we spoke to all the youths and advised them of the Local Peace Committee presence and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) reporting mechanisms,” said Chief Nkalakatha.
ZCA will continue to support Local Peace Committees in such efforts towards creating a conducive environment for peace and development in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has been inundated by spats of political violence and intolerance, human rights violations and enforced disappearances (or abductions).
Pastor Tavengwa Makore the Midlands ZCA Peace Ambassador stated that in the future they are looking forward to seeing youths from different provinces interacting in such initiatives towards promoting peace.
The Nkayi and Gweru Local Peace Committees peace plans have specifically targeted youths and have sports activities lined up for the summer. This will see them reaching out to more youths across local areas and peripheries.
Recently the Makokoba Local Peace Committee held an inter political party district peace march that hoisted the hope of Makokoba towards a future of a local community with Ubuntu, political tolerance and love of one another. It is such initiatives that will see the nation growing into a peaceful and prosperous people.