…with uptake reportedly high among girls
Tinaani Nyabereka
Gweru– Community has bemoaned the effects of drug abuse among youths saying it is disturbing to note that girls now dominate the number of consumers of crystal methamphetamime “mutoriro” drug compared to boys, which makes them vulnerable to sexual abuse.
The abuse of the drug by youths has reached alarming levels in the province with at least 30 young men and women being dragged to the courts on monthly basis.
Speaking during an Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) Council-stakeholders engagement recently, Ward 15 councillor who is also the Chairperson for the committee of Environment, Works and Town Planning, Trust Chineni said it is disturbing to note how girls are partaking in crystal methamphetamine abuse.
He added that, the demise of recreational facilities and centres have greatly affected how youths socialised in communities.
“The major problem which we are currently facing is the issue of drugs in our communities where youths are now abusing drugs to the extent that we do not know how to control them. What really disturbs me is realising that girls are now the most takers of Mutoriro than boys. It is a sad reality,” said Chineni.
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) Gweru Programs Officer, Tatenda Ushe said the church has a bigger role to play in helping young people.
“The church has a bigger role to play in terms of moulding the community and young people. There is need for a collective approach towards assisting young people to desist from indulging in social ills and drugs,” she said.
According to 2021 Drugs and Narcotics annual report, police in the Midlands province said an increase in abuse of drugs among young people was being fuelled by the harsh economic environment.
“The country’s economic environment in a way contributes to drug abuse. The unemployed citizens especially the youths are resorting to drug peddling to earn a living,” part of the report read.
The report also noted an increase in cases involving hard drugs as compared to the traditional dagga crimes over the past years.
“The hard drugs include cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, LSD, amphetamines, crystal meth, khat, and ephedrine among others. During this period, the station did not seize cocaine but managed to seize 149 grams of crystal meth,” the report read.
Last year a syndicate of drug dealers suspected of supplying most of the abusers in the province was arrested in Gweru after being caught with a consignment of the drug.
A Gweru resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the situation is very disturbing.
“Last year we witnessed the arrest of drug lords in the city but I was shocked to realise that some of the guys were not caged for the illegal act. At first I thought these were the boys who worked at the nearby car sales opposite Solace collage but then realised that these guys were the ones into drugs.
“What pains us as parents is that our children are surviving on these drugs on daily basis. You give then money to go into town but they will stroll by the parks abusing drugs there. It is worse when the universities are open, brothers and sisters happen then to be the biggest consumers of this Mutoriro drug. May the law enforcement agents help us to combat drugs in our communities, the situation is in dire state and we do not know where we are heading with this generation. These dealers will always pocket money at the expense of our children’s health,” the resident said.
Meanwhile health experts have constantly gave stern warning over the abuse of drugs.
A research conducted by health experts last year proved that the drugs create a mental breakdown after the effects of the drug wear out.
Short effects have been recorded as loss of appetite, increased heart rate, nausea, violent behaviour, hallucinations, panic and psychosis among other things.
As of 2021, the community has seen a sharp increase in the consumption of the crystal meth with most youth being reportedly spending sleepless nights.
Despite the uptake of Methamphetamine, drugs such as dagga and broncleer have remained on the line of the most used drugs by youths in Gweru.
