adminMaria Chiguvari
Parents and guardians have been urged to play a key role in fighting child marriage and drug abuse.
The call was made during a clean-up campaign held in Domboshava by Santa Heights School as part of raising awareness.
Founder of the school, Angela Mapfumo, said the purpose was to accelerate the end of child marriages and drug abuse and urge society to shun the vice.
She said they wanted to educate parents, caregivers, educators, and children about the dangers of drug use and dependency.
“We are saying no to drug and substance abuse. It is killing the future of our children. Their mental health is at risk.
“As a school, we value the rights of the girl child, and we encourage them to become educated not for them to be married off at a young age.
“Child marriages are associated with several complications on the minors such as obstetric fistula, and even death.
“The issue of drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe has been worrisome. Poor parental care and lack of sustained education for young people has led them to resort to substance abuse,” she said.
Members of the community were also grateful. “Let the young girls hear you. Let them listen and behave, early marriage is destructive to their lives,” said a resident. The campaign was a combined effort with Domboshava police, members of the community and the municipality.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter