Tobacco farming has become a hot "potato" in most churches as leaders fear it might cause serious factionalism and great loss of much-needed revenue for the upkeep and sustenance of the institutions.
Most church leaders contacted by The Herald refused to speak on behalf of their respective churches preferring to give personal opinions on whether it was Godly or not to grow the lucrative crop.
Tobacco is the crop of the moment with an average selling price of about US$4 per kilogramme.
It has evidently transformed the lives of many people and communities, with some cases of rags to riches being documented.
Investigations by The Herald last week revealed that some churches whose doctrines do not allow tobacco farming end up compromising them considering that most of the income comes from the growing of the golden leaf.
Proceeds from farming are reportedly dominating the tithes and love offerings in some churches to an extent that the churches choose not to debate the issue.
Investigations show that the churches feel the issue was too sensitive and a threat to the oneness of the institutions. Recently, one of the most popular and old churches was trapped in a predicament when a tobacco farmer and member of the church brought a US$600 000 tithe from tobacco sales to the church.
Sources within the church revealed that the leadership debated the issue at national level until the money was finally accepted.
"His tobacco had fetched in excess of US$6 million. There was a debate among the leaders until the money triumphed. The money was finally accepted after the leaders agreed to consider the business aspect of tobacco farming," said an impeccable source.
Mixed reactions came from various representatives, most of whom chose to speak on condition of anonymity.
Although most Christians agreed that there was nowhere in the Bible specifically barring people from growing or smoking tobacco, some challenged the practice on Christian health grounds.
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