By Decide Nhendo
Masvingo Provincial Drug Taskforce which comprises of the Provincial Information Office, Ministry of Health and Childcare, Zimbabwe Republic Police among other stakeholders has taken drug abuse awareness to schools with the determination to nip the menace in the bud.
Determined to educate students in Masvingo schools on the escalating drug misuse in schools and the country as a whole, the task force is speaking to learners, encouraging them to shun substance and drug abuse.
On March 18, the taskforce visited three schools namely Gokomere High, Mushagashe Training Centre and St Stanislaus Secondary School where learners interacted with members of the taskforce and got firsthand information on the dangers of drug abuse.
Commenting on the sidelines of the school visits, Masvingo District Schools Inspector (DSI) Ishmael Chigaba applauded the move saying it was a great solution in bringing awareness to the dangers of drugs and substance abuse which has taken schools by storm, mainly in urban centers.
“I applaud this move which is being run by the government organs on drugs and substance abuse chaired by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira as it is going to help learners know the dangers of drugs to their mental and physical health.
“This program should be done at all schools in Masvingo province and I think schools that need this awareness most are those in urban areas because that’s where drug abuse is more prevalent compared to those in rural areas,” said Chigaba.
Provincial Information Officer (PIO) Rogers Irimayi said the program was targeting secondary schools, institutions like universities and colleges, church gatherings, social meetings as well as any another meeting points in the province.
“Our task force targets any social gatherings including schools, colleges, universities church gatherings, and any areas where people gather to make them aware of the harm being disposed to our communities by drugs.
“We are targeting all the people elderly, youths as well as opinion leaders so that they educate children in their communities to shun drugs as they are destroying lives. We want people to know that overcoming addiction and substance abuse is a tough choice that requires great determination and sacrifice,” said Irimayi.
Echoing the same sentiments, Masvingo District Mental Health Coordinator Elliot Chidakwa said drugs were affecting youth leading to child marriages, dropping out of schools, and wild behaviors.
“If we look into our communities, it is clear that there are a lot of problems being brought by drug and substance abuse including suicides, child marriages, as well as mental disorders, a clear testimony that learners should walk away from dangerous drugs,” said Chidakwa.
Students from Mushagashe Training Center applauded the drug awareness campaign saying it gives them a clear picture of how drugs affect their lives and said the programme must be done in all schools within Masvingo.
“This programme is important to us, it is an eye opener that we should not keep on putting effort and energy into wrong things. We have a great task to shape our future through opportunities granted to us by our parents,” said Naison Maranda.
He said they were ready to take action and react to all the information they got on the dangers posed by drugs to help in community development.
Denzel Mabvundwe also thanked the programme and said it helps youth to select life paths that are good for health and mental well-being. He said the visit by President Emmerson Mnangangwa at the school where he also talked about the dangers of drug abuse challenged them to heed the calls.
“I thank the government for doing a programme like this, raising awareness on dangers brought by drugs to youths. From the negative effects that can be caused by drugs, it is clear that they are an enemy to progress as they are harmful to mental health, so it is left to us to select life paths that bear fruits for us,
“The fact that when President Mnangangwa came for Youths Day commemorations at Mushagashe raised issues concerning drugs shows that drug and substance abuse is becoming a pandemic, especially to the youth, the future,” said Mabvundwe.
