Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
THE Government has intensified its campaign against drug and substance abuse in Mashonaland West Province, with Zvimba District hosting a four-day awareness programme in Rafingora last week.
This comes amid concerns over serious crimes in the district, including murder, attempted murder and robbery, which authorities say are increasingly being linked to drug and substance abuse.
The outreach brought together traditional leaders, parents, schoolchildren, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders, with participants calling for stronger community-based measures to curb drug abuse.
Headman Gibson Katizagombo said the fight against drug and substance abuse should begin at household level, with parents playing a critical role in guiding their children.
“We need to engage our communities, particularly parents, and encourage them to sit down with their children and explain the dangers of drug and substance abuse,” he said.
“The fight begins at household level. We are facing serious crimes in this area, and some of these cases are linked to drug abuse.”
He said traditional leaders should use platforms such as ward and village development committees to raise awareness, identify drug dealers and strengthen community action against substance abuse.
Traditional leaders also committed to intensifying efforts to identify drug supply networks, discourage substance abuse and support authorities in taking action against those involved in the illicit trade.
They called for closer cooperation among parents, schools and law enforcement agencies to identify young people at risk and ensure they receive support before their problems escalate.
Parents were also encouraged to monitor their children’s activities and social circles while reporting suspicious behaviour and suspected drug dealing.
The director of Coordination in the Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Office, Mr Temproast Musemwa, said the Government was bringing together schoolchildren, parents, traditional leaders and the business community to develop interventions suited to the needs of individual communities.
“We cannot use a blanket approach because community systems differ from one area to another. What works in one community may not necessarily work in another. However, we are all united by a common cause, which is to ensure that we eliminate drug and substance abuse from our communities,” he said.
Mr Musemwa said Government was promoting a multi-stakeholder approach to combating drug and substance abuse, while efforts were underway to establish rehabilitation centres across the country.
Officiating at the Zvimba awareness campaign last week, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Marian Chombo, said resources being channelled towards combating drug and substance abuse could otherwise be directed towards national development.
She urged parents to reclaim their traditional role of guiding and shaping their children’s behaviour.
“Let us go back to our tradition where we made time for our families, sat down with our children and instilled good values in them. Parents have a critical role to play in shaping the behaviour of their children,” she said.
Minister Chombo said the responsibility of protecting young people from drugs could not be left to schools, the Government or traditional leaders alone, but required collective action beginning within families.
