Online Reporter
Michelle Musandinyoze, Zimpapers Writer
ZIMBABWE Newspapers (1980) Limited (Zimpapers), the country’s largest integrated media organisation, on Friday hosted an Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Indaba for Bulawayo urban secondary schools as part of efforts to complement Government initiatives to curb the widespread scourge.
The event, held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in the city, comes at a time when the country is grappling with rising drug and substance abuse cases, particularly among the youths.
The Government has intensified its multi-sectoral response, and Zimpapers has stepped in to play a critical role of raising awareness and educating learners.
In his opening remarks, Zimpapers Operations Editor, Isaac Waniwa said Zimpapers was concerned about the upsurge of drugs and substances abuse cases, especially among school children hence it organised the indaba for the stakeholders to engage.
He said the lives of the youths who were the country’s future leaders, were under threat as a result of drugs and substances abuse.
Waniwa said Zimpapers, which intends to roll out such engagement meetings to other provinces, was complementing Government and other organisations’ efforts to fight drugs and substance abuse.
He said Government was committed to fighting the drugs and substances abuse menace as evidenced by the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Task Force to co-ordinate the national response to the growing crisis of drug abuse.
Bulawayo Provincial Education Director, Bernard Mazambani, who was represented by schools inspector responsible for guidance and counselling, Memory Phiri, commended Zimpapers for organising the engagement, which brought together psychologists, therapists and education officials.
He said the campaign will have far-reaching benefits, adding that combating drug and substance abuse requires collective effort.
“We need collaboration from all stakeholders so that we win this war and we want to emphasise on the narrative ‘catch them young’ because there is no cure for drug and substance abuse. We also know the difficulties that come when our children start taking drugs and substances, which destroy their lives,” he said.
Ingutsheni Central Hospital Clinical Director, Dr Wellington Ranga said the hospital has a number of learners who failed to write their examinations this year due to severe addiction.
He urged pupils to completely avoid drugs, stressing that prevention is the most effective approach.
“Although many people turn to drugs as a way to escape their problems, it is not easy to stop using drugs once one starts. I, however, encourage people to desist from judging those who struggle with addiction, as it is often a result of deeper societal issues,” said Dr Ranga.
He said drug abuse affects people from all backgrounds and is therefore not a sign of weakness.
“The reasons behind drug and substance abuse are so complex and as such people should not rush to conclude that those who use drugs are weak or have problems because even those without problems can get caught up in the act,” he said.
Dr Ranga added that while social problems differ from person to person, they should never justify the decision to abuse drugs.
“We, however, need to take responsibility for our actions and stop glorifying drug use, there is no problem or challenge that can justify drug and substance abuse, we all come from different families where we all face diverse problems,” said Dr Ranga.
Ingutsheni Central Hospital’s occupational therapist, Dr Unity Chitapi, echoed similar sentiments, warning that drug and substance abuse leads to addiction, serious health complications, relationship breakdowns, financial distress, mental health disorders and in some cases, death.
“We need to break the cycle of addiction and build better communities for us and our children,” he said.
The event was attended by teachers, psychologists, therapists and pupils drawn from 25 secondary schools from Bulawayo.
