By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
THE Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church commemorated Adventist Global Youth Day 2026 under the theme “A Community in Action” by distributing grocery hampers to underprivileged members of the community in Beitbridge Urban.
Speaking to Ziyah News Network, SDA Pastor Petrosfiy Muleya said the initiative reflects the church’s commitment to serving the community.
“The church is in the community and it is for the community, so it must be seen giving back,” he said.
“We randomly selected beneficiaries from the youth around Beitbridge Urban with the help of our church members,” he said.
Local authorities applauded the church for its efforts in supporting vulnerable groups.
Speaking on behalf of the District Development Coordinator (DDC), administrative officer Samkeliso Ndlovu commended the role of churches in complementing government programmes.
“As local governance in Beitbridge, we appreciate the work being done by churches in supporting government efforts. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is one of our key stakeholders in the district,” she said.
Ndlovu said the church has been working closely with authorities in initiatives such as anti-drug abuse campaigns and community clean-up programmes.
She, however, encouraged the church to extend its outreach to rural areas.
“We urge the church not to focus only on urban communities but also to cater for rural parts of the district,” she said.
Chief Tshitaudze, born David Mbedzi, also addressed the gathering and encouraged young people to prioritize education, describing it as a vital pathway to success.
He noted that while many people previously relied on informal cross-border trading for income, opportunities for shortcuts are now limited.
“When things become difficult, some people are tempted to take what does not belong to them,” he said.
“Young people must instead take advantage of their talents, whether in sports or crafting, and consider enrolling at vocational training centres such as the one in Lutumba,” he said.
Ward 6 Chairperson Joseph Chipanga challenged local authorities to invest in recreational infrastructure, saying such facilities would help keep young people engaged in positive activities.
“We need recreational spaces where youth can spend their time productively and avoid drug and substance abuse,” he said.