Zimbabwe (MNN) — Zimbabwe has arrested nearly 100 protestors as people push back against the government. Demonstrators are upset over a proposal to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s time in office until 2030 — two years past the end of his last term.
On Monday, the capital city came to a standstill as businesses, schools, and vendors shut down in protest. A demonstration of roughly 200 people gathered in Harare’s Freedom Square. The government responded with heavy police presence, arresting at least 95 protestors who were accused of throwing rocks at law enforcement.
Greg Yoder, President of Christian World Outreach (CWO), says, “Even though these protests are kind of limited to the capital…it does affect the whole country. As power changes from one leader to another or is possibly changing, it does cause people to think, ‘Okay, what’s going to happen now?’”
Kids supported by CWO in Zimbabwe. (Photo courtesy of Christian World Outreach)
Amidst political uncertainty, Zimbabwe’s youth face challenges of their own. Over half struggle with substance abuse, and high unemployment leaves many feeling lost.
CWO supports vulnerable children and teens in Zimbabwe through the Our Kids program, which provides food, medical care, and education in Jesus’ name.
“The children we work with are vulnerable children — maybe an orphan or double orphan,” explains Yoder. “So we come alongside caregivers and try to help them and even give them training so they know how to take care of these children that they’ve brought into their homes.”
For teens, the focus is on sharing the Gospel and setting them up for a bright and productive life. Yoder says, “We recently had a camp with teenage boys and girls and they were asked the question: ‘If you dream about your future, what would you want to do?’”
“One of the young ladies shared that there’s only one clinic in her area. She wanted to become a doctor so she could come back to her area and be able to help the people.”
(Photo courtesy of CWO)
CWO also works with local churches to support these kids. “We’re trying to encourage the leaders of churches to come alongside these young people and be able to minister to them. So we try to connect with a church in that area…and work with the leadership in those areas where the kids are.”
As Zimbabwe faces an uncertain future, ministries like CWO are pointing the next generation to Jesus Christ.
Yoder encourages, “Pray for our staff that are working with these young people as they go through the program. They can invest in their lives. These kids are the future of Zimbabwe, and so to raise up Christian leaders is important.”
Financial support is another way you can make a difference. “This program costs about $45 a month to help send these kids to school, to help them with medical, clothes, food — whatever their needs are — and to support the caregivers too.”
Connect with CWO’s Zimbabwe ministry here.
Header photo: Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. (Photo courtesy of News Measurements Network Live/Flickr: Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal, https://rb.gy/cx6qlr)
