Sidumisile Mabena
Sunday News Correspondent
Gwanda — Duration Gold, the mining company operating Vubachikwe Mine, is set to partner with a reputable media organisation to roll out a comprehensive drug and substance abuse awareness campaign targeting communities in the Gwanda area.
The initiative comes amid growing concern over the rise in drug and substance abuse among Zimbabwe’s youth, a crisis that has increasingly drawn the attention of Government, civic society and private sector players. While often perceived as an urban challenge, stakeholders say smaller mining towns such as Gwanda are not immune.
Speaking on the forthcoming campaign, company spokesperson Mr Robert Mukondiwa said Duration Gold was stepping forward not merely as a corporate entity, but as a responsible community partner responding to a pressing national issue.
“We are witnessing a troubling escalation in drug and substance abuse among young people across the country, and Gwanda is no exception,” Mr Mukondiwa said.
“As a business embedded in this community, we cannot afford to be passive observers. We must be active participants in shaping a safer, healthier future.”
Mr Mukondiwa emphasised that the initiative would be implemented in collaboration with other stakeholders, including Government institutions and community organisations already working to combat the scourge. “This is not a fight any one institution can win alone,” he noted.
“We see ourselves as complementing ongoing efforts by Government and other partners. It is about building a coalition of responsibility around our young people.”
He added that the campaign forms part of the company’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, which places a strong emphasis on youth development.
“Youth are not just beneficiaries of development — they are its drivers,” Mr Mukondiwa said.
“They are the future leaders and the future workforce that will help Zimbabwe realise its ambition of a mining-led US$12 billion economy. That future cannot be secured if we allow drugs and substance abuse to erode their potential. They must be jealously guarded, their well-being protected and their prospects preserved.”
Mr Mukondiwa expressed particular concern over the increasing vulnerability of young women and girls, warning that substance abuse exposes them to compounded risks.
“We are especially worried about young women and girls who are being drawn into substance abuse,” he said.
“The consequences for them are often more severe and far-reaching, affecting not just their health but their safety, dignity, and long-term opportunities. Any meaningful intervention must deliberately include and protect them.”
He said the upcoming campaign would focus on awareness, education and community engagement, leveraging media platforms to reach a wide audience and stimulate informed dialogue.
“The finer details — including rollout dates, programme structure and our media partner — will be unveiled in due course,” Mr Mukondiwa added.
“What is important now is our commitment: we are stepping up, and we are doing so with purpose.”
The initiative is expected to add momentum to national efforts to address drug and substance abuse, particularly in communities where economic activity and social change intersect, such as mining towns.
As Gwanda continues to grow around its mining backbone, stakeholders hope such interventions will help safeguard the community’s most valuable resource — its young people.
Online Reporter