PAMELA MACHIDHA
ZVISHAVANE-ln a desperate plea for help, traditional leaders under Chief Masunda in Zvishavane have called for drug prevention campaign to address the growing problem of substance abuse among youths in their village.
The village has been devastated by the loss of young lives due to drug-related accidents and health problems.
In a revealing interview, village head Mafuhwe stated that more out outreach programmes are needed to change social behaviour of villages’ youths.
” We need to join hands with law enforcement, health officials, local authorities and social services agencies to end the scourge of drug substances in the rural areas. Drug abuse has become a deadly problem for students in our area.
“Several students in my area have reportedly been expelled from school after they were caught with marijuana on school grounds, said Mafuhwe”.
Detective Assistant Inspector Memory Matsvimbo spokesperson for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)in Zvishavane raised the alarm about the dangers of using illicit substances.
“Individuals under the influence of drugs are more likely to engage in violent and harmful behavior, including robbery, theft, murder, and assault. Commonly abused drugs include marijuana also known as mbanje, methamphetamine known as guka or mutoriro, glue, and cough syrup”.
“These drugs have been linked to a variety of health problems, including addiction, mental illness, and early death. As police officers we are working tirelessly to track down the source of these drugs and bring those responsible to justice, Matsvimbo said”.
A local mother, Silvia Toringepi, barely hold back her tears as she described the devastating impact of drug abuse on the girl child.
“Zvinodzimba moyo kuona mwanasikana asisina hunhu apa akaparara nemutoriro (It is a heartbreaking to see the girl child losing touch with our traditional values of Ubuntu/hunhu due to the destructive effects of drug and substance abuse such as mutoriro.”
“The use of substances has led to teen pregnancies which cause serious health complications for both the mother and the baby, said Toringepi”
