Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
BULAWAYO’S gaming centres, once seen as recreational spaces, are fast emerging as breeding grounds for juvenile delinquency, substance abuse and truancy, prompting concern among parents, teachers and police.
What was once a passing entertainment trend has evolved into a troubling subculture.
Investigations by Zimpapers revealed that these gaming centres have increasingly taken over the role once played by infamous Vuzu parties — gatherings notorious for underage drinking, drug abuse and sexual activity. These centres are now the new frontier of the juveniles’ risky behaviours.
On Thursday, police in Bulawayo raided an illegal gaming centre operating at Highgate Complex in the city centre.
The officers discovered a group of schoolchildren, some still in uniform, loitering at the establishment having bunked lessons.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, confirmed that eight high school pupils were arrested, along with the proprietor of the unlicensed gaming outlet. Gaming equipment was also confiscated.
“We arrested eight high school pupils from various city schools. These children were found at the centre as early as 8AM, clearly indicating that they had bunked classes. Some even gave false names of schools and fake contact details of their guardians,” she said.
Insp Msebele said the environment exposed the learners to a wide range of dangers, including drug and alcohol abuse and potential sexual exploitation as the centres operate with little to no adult supervision.
“The operators of these gaming hubs are more concerned about profits than the welfare of the children. These centres are essentially becoming unregulated spaces where vulnerable youth are being led astray,” she said.
Insp Msebele warned that the combination of peer pressure and unsupervised access to such environments creates a “perfect storm” for deviant behaviour.
She called for a multi-sectoral response to the crisis, including stronger regulation and enforcement.
“There’s an urgent need for collaboration between law enforcement, the Lotteries and Gaming Board, city council and communities. We also encourage parents to be more vigilant about their children’s whereabouts,” said Insp Msebele.
She called for the establishment of an inclusive task force to ensure mandatory supervision protocols are adhered to.
“We also recommend the formation of an inclusive taskforce to enforce licensing regulations, implement mandatory adult supervision at gaming venues and launch public awareness campaigns targeting both youths and parents,” said Insp Msebele.
“A collaboration between gaming centre owners and local authorities, including comprehensive awareness programmes for parents and teenagers, is also a must.”
A parent whose child was among those caught in the Highgate raid described the situation as a wake-up call.
“These places may seem harmless but they expose children to negative influences, including peer pressure, addiction and crime. Gaming can easily become an obsession and derail a child’s education and mental health,” said the parent.
The crackdown in Bulawayo follows a similar operation in Beitbridge earlier this month when the Lotteries and Gaming Board, working with the police, destroyed 84 counterfeit slot machines seized from homes and businesses, most of them operating without licences in high-density suburbs.
The rising number of unregistered gaming facilities has raised concerns among residents in cities and towns.
While gaming can promote hand-eye co-ordination and cognitive development when moderated, experts warn that unsupervised and excessive exposure, especially in an informal or illegal settings, may lead to addiction, poor academic performance and increased exposure to crime.
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