BY SYDNEY SAIZE IN MUTARE
The Apostolic Faith’s Johane Marange in Manicaland Province are clamouring for contraceptives as family planning education takes root among the congregants who once frowned at the measures of birth control and safe sex.
Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council, Manicaland manager Dyson Masvingise told Business Times that there was increased interest and demand for contraceptives from the male church members.
The talk of contraceptives has been an uncomfortable topic for the church members.
“We have seen a change from the apostolic faith members in Marange where we have had awareness campaigns over the years under our programmes on sexual health rights,’’ Masvingise said.
“Needless to say the demand for condoms has been on the rise from the church members, we are glad that sexual health education has had an impact.”
In the past there has been resistance from faith-based organisations on family planning measures such as condom use, pills and injections for birth control.
Zacharia Chikwata, a member of the Johane Marange apostolic church told the Business Times it was time people need to move ahead with the changing times.
“We are no longer in the dark ages. It is prudent that birth control is managed in households. There is no point in having too many children whom one cannot take care of.
“Yes in the Bible there is a verse where it is said ‘bring forth children and they be as many as the sand of the seas’, but that cannot apply now given the economic challenges,” Chikwata said.
