The Sunday News
Kilton Moyo
I might sound like I am a prophet of doom to others but I believe in telling the truth as it is and of course with grace. When you really look around you where ever you are, you will see a high rise of abuse of almost everything that is given to us as a people. Do not tell me you do not see child abuse, wife abuse, husband abuse, family abuse, human abuse, woman abuse, man abuse, youth abuse, money abuse, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, food abuse, sex abuse, power abuse, religious abuse, bible abuse, material abuse, animal abuse, media abuse, and many more. You can make yourself a huge list of these abuses that this generation perpetuates against itself.
Most of our pains, sufferings, wars, conflicts, and poverty are a result of abuse of one nature or another. Divorce is abuse and a result of abuse. Killing another person is abuse and a result of abuse. To me it seems like we are an abusive generation and we love hurting each other more. We find pride and satisfaction in wrong things and we find it hard to do things right. I ask myself one question every time, why is it so hard for this generation to do the right things in a right manner? We throw away right and put so much effort in doing wrong things as right things. Wrong will never be right no matter how much we do it. I am concerned about our capacity to abuse as a generation and I am concerned about our lack of wisdom in realising the horrible effects of this abusive nature on our health and future.
Today I however, want to concentrate on the effects or dangers of abusing something many of our people love. This is alcohol.
I have had the privilege to travel around Africa both urban and rural. I have seen many people, young and old, male and female trapped in drunkenness which is a result of abusing alcohol. Many have lost their lives. Many are in prison. Many are poor. Many have no vision or purpose for life. Many are just trapped and waiting to die there and have given up and believed a lie that drunkenness is part of their culture and the inheritance of their forefathers. This is sad, very sad. It is said that 45% of the African population is young people 25 years old and under. This is the age group that is caught up in this kind of abuse and what more with drugs coming into the picture.
I have realised that where there is drunkenness there is also drug abuse and free sexual intercourse. These three are evil triplets that have destroyed many lives and shall continue to do so unless and until we all come back to our senses. I realise that these days they are adding the fourth devil called pornography. Our youth and even the elderly are trapped. Keep this combination in mind; alcohol, drugs, pornography and sexual intercourse and if you have any moment to spare in prayer for this generation, raise a voice against these. But are you ready for the effects of alcohol abuse on your life, family, community and nation?
Loosens morals
I have seen drunken people completely lose it, morally. Many have done horrible things because they were drunk. They have slept with anyone. They have raped, stolen and even killed because they were drunk. Go to many communities in Africa today, even rural ones and see the level of immorality of any nature because people are drunk. I mean what kind of families and nations are we building out of such immorality? We have lost morals everywhere, in high offices, at church, in politics, in business, in sports and wait a minute, where are we headed to? Drunkenness has cost families and nations a lot and something has to be done. It pains to see that alcohol is always the cheapest commodity in our countries so that everyone can afford it. It is always available. Maybe this is a political strategy by the devil to keep Africa imprisoned in this pit.
Leads to poverty
In Proverbs 23 vs 21 the Bible tells us clearly that the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty. It says you will be clothed in rags because of drunkenness. I have seen many people made poorer by drunken habits. Whatever money they make, it goes to the pub. They cannot support their families, condemning them to begging and poverty. They cannot afford themselves even a decent meal or clothes. They are so addicted and they call this pleasure. I think something is wrong in this kind of thinking. I have seen communities in Africa who are so poor but surrounded with so much resources. They cannot even go to their own fields because all they love is to go beer drinking. They wait for Governments and NGOs to feed them.
This is a shame. Our poverty in Africa cannot be blamed on colonialism up to now. It’s now our mindsets and behaviours.
How much really have you lost in drunkenness? If you really sit down to calculate, you will find that millions of USD have gone past your hands over the years but you cannot account for them. You drank all the money.
Destroys health
How many people have you seen die because of their drunken behaviour? I have seen drunkards, young and old neglect their health and commit so much passion to drunkenness. Some abuse red meat in braais and suffer the consequences. Many have just lost the game enjoying this trap. Can you imagine a community of sick men because they are drunk? Can you imagine a nation of sick people because they are drunk? Can you imagine the costs of managing a sick nation? Can you come to think of how much Governments lose a year paying for our health bills because we have gone drinking and lost our manners? I think something has to be done here.
Leads to sorrow
I wonder how many of us out there are in sorrow because we were drunk and did horror. This has become a culture for many of our people. Sorrowful families and communities’ day in and day out. Remember the story of Nabal and Abigail in the Bible in 1 Samuel 25. Nabal was so drunk he could not make clear judgment on David’s request. Abigail saved the day but when she told Nabal the following day what David could have done, his heart collapsed and he died. Imagine the sorrow in that family just because dad was drunk. How many have divorced because of drunkenness?
How many are dead? How many have been beaten up, robed, raped, murdered and how many are in prison because of this?
Alcohol abuse is like a curse now in this continent. If Africa is serious, she wants to develop and come out of the pit of poverty and many other ills; she must rethink her drunken levels. If your leadership is drunk and the youth, who are the future, are drunk, then there is no future but death and gloom. Beloved, this generation has to change this mindset. Africa shall be saved.
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Kilton Moyo is creator of Fruitful Marriages, a renewal and enrichment program and is a pastor, counsellor and author of The Sex Trap. Call or WhatsApp on +263775337207, +263772610103 or [email protected]
