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Liberty Dube
Weekender Correspondent
THREE pupils at Dangare Primary School in Sakubva were this week taken for guidance and counselling by the police after they were allegedly involved in the peddling of drugs.
The Manica Post established that the learners (names withheld), mostly in Grade Seven, were now involved in sniffing Jolly Juice powder to get “high”.
Just when police, parents, Government, school authorities and other stakeholders had joined hands in the fight against drug abuse among youths in Manicaland Province, and the country at large, the pupils seems to have discovered another addictive drug apart from drinking concoctions made from boiled diapers and mosquito repellents.
The pupils — all boys — were taken to Chisamba Police Station under the guidance of the organisation’s community and public relations liaison office as well as their parents and guardians.
The school head, only identified as Mrs Rukunda, told this publication that police were handling the matter.
“It was not a serious issue. The pupils were taken to police for guidance and counselling. Can you contact the police because they are the ones who handled the matter. I am not able to comment and I donot think it is worth publishing,” she said.
Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba, confirmed the development, and said the pupils, in the company of their parents, underwent guidance and counselling sessions.
“According to reports that I have received, three pupils from the school (Dangare Primary School), accompanied by their parents and guardians, were taken by the ZRP Child Friendly Unit and the community and public relations and liaison office for guidance and counselling after they were involved in peddling drugs. We will deploy our psychologists to engage and address the pupils and others at school level,” he said.
One of the pupils’ guardians, Mr Tafadzwa Zambasira, said the issue was disturbing.
“I am hearing that there is a drug that is being put in the Jolly Juice powder before they sniff it to get high. One of the pupils is my nephew, and they were taken by the police for guidance and counselling. The kids are experimental, and if they are not guided it may be disastrous,” he said.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed the issue.
He said the pupils received counselling.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said the drug was purely Jolly Juice and there was no other drug which was mixed with the powder.
“The pupils in question received counselling, encouraging them to desist from sniffing the powder. It is actually an on-going programme we are implementing to raise awareness against drug and sexual abuse in schools. This is a case of imitation and mental issue as the pupils will be thinking that by sniffing the Jolly Juice powder they will get high. We are encouraging the development of good parent-child relationships at home.
“These relations should be cemented cordially so that parents are able to effectively monitor their children’s behaviour trend. A healthy parent-child relationship is critical as children would also feel free to share their concerns and daily experiences,” he said.
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