By Wesley Murove
In a significant milestone for community engagement in law enforcement, the Christian Community Police Network (CCPN) was launched last Tuesday, marking an effort to combat
crime, drugs, and substance abuse in Gweru.
This collaboration between the Christian community and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) aims to promote community initiatives that enhance safety and security in their local neighborhood.
During the launch, Chief Superintendent Dr. Leon Marongedza of the Zimbabwe Republic Police in Gweru emphasized that this joint initiative aims to combat crime and substance abuse within the community.
“The engagement of the Christian community in fighting against crime and drug substance abuse, together with the Zimbabwe Police, is an achievement towards promoting community policy initiatives.
Echoing biblical wisdom, Mangombedza referenced Psalms 127:1: “Except the Lord
buildeth the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watch
man waketh but in vain, emphasizing the role that divine guidance plays in these efforts.“
The mission of the CCPN is to provide spiritual support to police members and their families
while working to reduce crime through the teachings of the Bible.
Through the CCPN, participants aim to improve communication and trust between the police and the Christian community, and provide a platform for addressing
crime-related issues, and foster a sense of civic responsibility among citizens.
The CCPN represents a beacon of hope, and it is a platform for us to work together, sharing
ideas and resources to create a safer environment for all.
Midlands CCPN vice chairperson, Bishop Bruce Magavagava of Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe, pledged the church’s continued support in the fight against drug and substance abuse in the community.
“As the church, we have always aimed to build a brighter future for the community, setting a shining example of unity and cooperation in the fight against crime, been preaching against taking alcohol; however, drug and substance abuse have become a pandemic all over the world, so we cannot fold our hands, but we work together with the Police through speaking against it and providing counseling to our members. We have dedicated sessions in our churches where we speak about drug and substance abuse, discouraging our
members to desist from abusing drugs.”
The CCPN is a growing national network of pastors from different churches who undergo vetting and a two-day training program with the Police to qualify as members of the network.
Gratitude was expressed towards the Zimbabwe Police and the Christian Community for their tireless efforts that have brought this initiative to fruition.
As the network takes root, it underscores the important role collaboration plays in ensuring community safety, blending spiritual guidance with proactive law enforcement strategies.
With a shared commitment to peace and harmony, the CCPN the “Christian Community Police Network” (CCPN), appears to be a localized, contemporary initiative rather than a long-standing organization with an extensive history.
Most search results about the CCPN reference its launch in Zimbabwe in 2011, though faith-based community policing efforts have a longer history.
In November 2011, the Christian Community Police Network was officially launched in Zimbabwe as a partnership between the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and local churches.
The initiative aimed to bridge the gap between the police and the public by involving church leaders and pastors in community policing efforts.
Key figures at the launch included the Zimbabwe Republic Police Assistant Commissioner
Mugumira and CCPN chairman Reverend Steven Gwenzi.
The network sought to utilize pastors’ influence to gather information from their congregations, provide spiritual and moral counseling to police officers, and reduce crime by promoting good morals.
More recently, in October 2025,a similar Christian Community Police Network was launched in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe.
This launch further supports the view that the CCPN is a contemporary and localized effort in that region, partnering with the Zimbabwe Republic Police to combat crime and address issues like drug and substance abuse
