By Kudzai Simango
In its quest to curb surging drug abuse cases and child marriages, Masvingo City Council in conjunction with Charles Austin Theatre organized a talk show on January 13 2023 where Masvingo local high schools students were granted an opportunity to express their views on the causes and the way forward to stop these societal ills.
During the discussion Junior councilors from different schools around Masvingo which include Ndarama High School, Victoria High and Rujeko High mentioned that in order for the country to be able to overcome drug abuse as well as child marriages, the authority has to find the source of these problems in order to deal with perpetrators.
Lennon Muzondo, a form six pupil at Victoria High School said one of the most disturbing foundations of the surging drug abuse cases is that government measures are half-hearted due to the suspected involvement of highly-connected individuals who cartel in the illicit drug trade and as a result cause law enforcers to neglect the right order by not taking appropriate measures to deal with those found dealing in drugs.
“It is sad to note that law enforcers are neglecting the right order as they do not take appropriate measures to stop drug abuse as most drug lords are well connected to top officials who use their influence to assist them,” said Muzondo.
Anesu Ruzive a form four student at Ndarama High School said if the government is to completely stop substance abuse it must shift focus from construction of rehabilitation centers and usher those resources to attentively deal with the sources where the youth find these drugs devastating their futures.
“If the government wants to totally deal with drug abuse cases taking toll in young people, it has to put attention on sources be it on borders or any local known drug hotspots so as to arrest the increase of drug abuse,” said Ruzive.
Zimbabwe is experiencing a drug and substance abuse crisis and the drug epidemic is mainly affecting young people mostly males, even though the prevalence of females who misuse drugs is also rising which mean to say the government and other interested parties must take grave action to stop this prevailing crisis.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the government, and Zimbabwe Liberties and Drug Network it is sad to note that nearly 60percent of all school dropouts in the country in 2023 were merely a result of drug and substance abuse which shows the need for swift action on drug and substance abuse as it is greatly affecting the future generation.
On child marriages, Praise Bvunde a form six junior councilor at Ndarama High School applauded the move by government on amendment of the Criminal Law (Codification Reform) Act that will criminalize sex with anyone below 18 years and she said the government, civic organizations and other stakeholders have to keep empowering and educating the girl child in order to overcome early marriages.
“I thank the government for Amendment of the Criminal Law (Codification Reform) Act that criminalize sex with anyone below 18 years, I hope our government, civil organizations and other interested parties in the matter at hand must keep on educating the young girls so as to give power to us girls so that we will not be victims to early marriages which greatly ruin our futures,” said Bvunde.
Nokutenda Nyoni, a form three junior councilor at Rujeko High School said there is need for more physical campaigns as compared to those being aired on internet, television and radios because most girls in remote rural areas miss this very important information concerning their wellbeing.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF), 32 percent of girls in Zimbabwe are married off before the age of 18 years.
Harmful cultural practices like using girl children as restitution for avenging spirits have been on the decline, but religious sects have been blamed for continuously perpetuating child marriages.
