By  Pastors Toolbox (Media Desk)

On   8, 2026

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SOCIETY & MORALITY | CLERGY RESPONSE

‘Don’t Poison Our Kids’: Apostle Mangwanya Slams Musicians Over ‘Dirty Lyrics’ Amid Ongoing Jiti Debate

Focus: Moral Integrity & Youth Protection  |  Location: Harare, Zimbabwe 🇿🇼  
  Report By: Sona Religion & Society Desk

The fierce national debate surrounding the use of sexually explicit lyrics in mainstream Zimbabwean music has officially drawn the attention of the clergy. Apostle Stephen Mangwanya, leader of the New United Apostolic Faith Church, has issued a stern warning to the entertainment industry, accusing artists of deliberately leading the country’s children astray.

PROTECTING THE NEXT GENERATION: Addressing a "Life Changing Church Service," Apostle Mangwanya warned that mainstream music is not just entertainment—it actively shapes the behavior and character of young people.

Coming hot on the heels of the massive public outcry against artists incorporating vulgar "midnight music" into traditional genres like Jiti, the Apostle's intervention adds a heavy spiritual perspective to the controversy. He warned parents and church leaders that if they fail to actively counter these "weird idioms" and corruptive songs, the nation will pay a devastating price in the form of increased youth delinquency and substance abuse.

The Warning Protecting Youth The Solution FAQs The Verdict

The Poisoning of Minds

Apostle Mangwanya did not mince words when describing the negative impact of the current wave of popular music dominating the airwaves.

Targeting Hidden Meanings:

Addressing congregants during a recent service, the church leader explicitly targeted artists who hide explicit meanings behind clever slang and idioms.

Corrupting the Culture “A number of musicians have been contributing much in polluting our children with weird songs,” Apostle Mangwanya stated. “They release songs with weird idioms meant to corrupt people’s minds, which cannot be played in the presence of parents and in-laws.”

A Call for Moral Teaching He clarified that his critique was not aimed at stifling creativity or forcing everyone to sing religious tracks. “I am not discouraging gospel music but saying let the songs have a moral teaching.”

The Link to Substance Abuse

The Apostle connected the moral decay in popular music directly to the rising crisis of drug and substance abuse among Zimbabwean youth.

Catching Them Young “The church must catch our children at a tender age before they get corrupted by the wind of drugs and substance abuse,” he warned, noting that the glorification of vice in music normalizes destructive behaviors.

A Costly Failure He issued a stark prophecy for the future if the issue is ignored: “If parents and church leaders fail to teach their children at their tender age, the results will be costly, leading to more street children in the long run.”

Reforming the Sunday School

To combat the high-budget influence of the entertainment industry, the Apostle proposed a structural upgrade to how churches handle youth ministry.

A Required Upgrade:

Apostle Mangwanya argued that it is no longer enough to leave the spiritual education of children to untrained volunteers.

Trained Educators Needed “Let every church leader make sure Sunday School teachers are trained to impart best knowledge and win these souls," he urged. "Sunday School teachers must not be volunteers without training, because these young ones are the ones to take over from us.”

Frequently Asked Questions

He accused certain musicians of polluting the minds of children by using "weird idioms" and dirty lyrics that cannot be played respectfully around parents or in-laws.

Apostle Stephen Mangwanya is the leader of the New United Apostolic Faith Church.

He believes the church must intervene early by ensuring that Sunday School teachers are formally trained professionals rather than mere volunteers, equipping them to counter the influence of explicit music and drugs.

OFFICIAL EDITORIAL VERDICT

A Culture at a Crossroads

The fierce pushback against explicit lyrics is no longer just a grumble from conservative music purists; it has officially become a broader societal mandate. Apostle Mangwanya’s comments tap directly into the ongoing national debate triggered by artists prioritizing viral shock value over moral responsibility.

When traditional genres are weaponized with vulgarity to gain traction on TikTok, the casualty is often the innocence of the youth listening on the other side of the screen. The Apostle's solution—elevating the role of the Sunday School teacher from a casual volunteer to a trained frontline defender—is a remarkably practical call to action for the religious community as it battles the digital era's influence.

@ Sona Headlines 2026 | Religion & Society Desk

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