adminTatenda Gapare Sunday News Reporter
THE Bulawayo Junior Council has taken a swipe at schools, blaming them for the prevalence of vuzu parties, saying the phenomenon only came about after schools banned discos and related entertainment events. Speaking during a sponsored walk to Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage, junior councillors said it was unfair to lay the entire blame on school-going children, saying schools were equally to blame.
The walk was held in conjunction with the National University of Science and Technology and a number of local schools. It was held under the theme: “No to child abuse, No to Vuzus and No to drugs.”
Junior Mayor Tanaka Charamba said schools should take full responsibility and try to come up with means of resolving the issue.
“Most of the teenagers who attend vuzu parties are boarders because they lack entertainment at schools. There is limited fun at boarding schools so when they close schools they seek entertainment that day scholars always enjoy during the term.
“Schools must provide fun facilities for youths so that the rate of vuzu parties decrease. Entertainment at school is under supervision of teachers so it will be limited and productive in a good way,” said Tanaka.
He said most of the recreational facilities for teenagers in the city are not working so teenagers turn to vuzu parties as a way of entertaining themselves.
Other pupils who attended the walk concurred with the junior mayor.
“Vuzu parties started when school authorities banned discos and bashes so they are the reason why teenagers started vuzu parties,” said Liaison Kwayendepi a pupil from Northlea High School.
The pupils said lack of entertainment in schools resulted in vuzu parties which have, however, been spoiled by teens who drink alcohol, take drugs and engage in sex.
“We used to throw parties at school and have fun but they banned it, that is when I started going to vuzu parties because we are free to do anything there,” said one pupil.
The pupils also blamed unemployment for vuzu parties as it forces people to offer their houses to partying teenagers.
“People allow teenagers to have vuzu parties in their houses because they get paid at least $80 which you can hardly make in a day,” said Irvine Rodney, a pupil from East View High School.
One of the pupils who spoke on condition of anonymity blamed parents for failing to control their children.
She said she started attending vuzu parties when she was in Form One but stopped last month when she appeared in a newspaper among teenagers who were arrested.
“The reason why I attended vuzu parties is that people there appreciated me as I am. My dad used to hide me and not appreciate me because of my weight. When I drank alcohol I would get hyper-active, dance and feel at home,” said the pupil.
In August, 224 pupils who held a vuzu party at Umguza Rest Camp on the outskirts of Bulawayo were arrested and later released into the custody of their parents.
Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said the purpose of the sponsored walk was to create awareness on vuzu parties.
“Our aim was to create awareness on vuzu parties, obtain knowledge of the City of Bulawayo and thus create liaison between the youths and elders,” said Mrs Mpofu.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo was yesterday quoted as saying the Government had already started working on appropriate laws to curtail vuzu parties.
Online Reporter