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Johnsias Mutonhori, Midlands Correspondent
SPORTS and arts festivals have been identified as some of the most effective initiatives in the country’s fight against drug and substance abuse as well as child marriages which have been rampant in the country’s communities.
Speaking at the sports and arts festival day at Nembudziya High School in Gokwe North where eight schools converged for the event, the national executive director of the Zimbabwe Organisation for Young People, Mr Justine Makore said sports and arts festivals could be harnessed and be effective vehicles for change in the fight against drug and substance abuse as well as early child marriages in the country.
He described early marriages as a pandemic in most poor rural communities where young girls see marriage as an escape route out of poverty without looking at the effects.
The event was held under the theme, “Youth emancipation and fighting against child marriages and drug abuse, leaving no one and no place behind,” which Mr Makore said was apt as it speaks to the Second Republic’s development trajectory.
He said drug and substance abuse as well as early child marriages have become of concern to all the stakeholders within Government and local communities with an alarming number of school children dropping out of school before attaining the expected milestones to enable them to thrive.
“Every year we do an Annual Sports and Arts Festival (ASAF) in different parts of the country where young people would be given the platform to showcase their talents in the fields of sports and arts.
“Our aim on these ASAF is to make the youth understand that there is a lot that they can do besides rushing into marriages before they reach the age of majority. We also try to dissuade them from partaking in drug and substance abuse,” he said.
The event saw school children showcasing their talent through plays, dances, music and poems that were pregnant with messages that speak against drug and substance abuse as well as early child marriages
Drug and substance abuse which was once associated with high-density and old residential location culture is now penetrating the countryside leading stakeholders to worry about the generation that is coming up.
Mr Makore said the fight against drug abuse and early child marriage must be a responsibility of everyone and the message must reach every corner of the country.
“Drug and substance abuse has become one of the serious social threats in both urban and rural areas, and is undeniably the greatest barrier to the heritage of our country and the fight must cascade to every corner of the country.
“As Zimbabwe Organisation for Young People we will keep conducting these annual sports and arts festivals in different parts of the country to keep reminding the young people that there is a lot that they can do besides rushing into marriages and substance abuse,” he said.
The Sports and Arts Festival Day commemorates and celebrates Zimbabwean heritage through sports and arts as a way of cherishing national cultural values and norms with an appreciation of diversity.
Zimbabwe Organisation for Young People is registered under National Youth Organisation and Mr Makore said they styled this year’s event in line with the President’s philosophy of “leaving no one and no place behind” in their fight against drug and substance abuse and child marriages reach out.
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