Fighting the scourge: Bulawayo’s Ward 29 takes bold stand against drug and substance abuse

The campaign seeks to educate young people about the legal, social and health consequences of engaging in criminal activities while encouraging them to make responsible life choices. Chipinge District is a drug hotspot which is used as a transit point by smugglers bringing in illegal drugs from Mozambique, while child marriages are still rampant as perpetrators flee with underage girls to Mozambique to avoid arrest.

Sipepisiwe Moyo, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub

As Zimbabwe grapples with the growing menace of drug and substance abuse, grassroots initiatives are stepping up to be the first line of defence, and in Bulawayo’s Ward 29, a community-led campaign is doing exactly that.

This Sunday, May 26, residents of Lobengula West and Mountain View will come together for a Drug and Substance Abuse awareness campaign at the Mountain View Shopping Centre. The event will run from 10am to 4pm and is the result of a collaborative effort between the office of Ward 29 Councillor, Engineer Royini Sekete, and local residents.

With drug and substance abuse increasingly affecting young people and tearing through communities, such initiatives are not just timely, they are critical.

Councillor Sekete stressed the importance of proactive community action, saying: “This event aims to raise awareness about the dangers of drug and substance abuse, promote prevention strategies, and provide support to those affected. We believe that collaboration and collective efforts are crucial in addressing this issue.”

The event promises a multifaceted approach to the crisis. It will include exhibitions and awareness campaigns, presentations by experts on mental health, rehabilitation, and addiction recovery, interactive sessions and community discussions, and distribution of educational materials with practical information on identifying, preventing, and addressing substance abuse

The devastating impact of substance abuse is no longer confined to the headlines. It is playing out in families, schools, and neighbourhoods, robbing communities of potential and young people of their futures.