Mbanje cakes a hit at schools

Ngoni Dapira
IT seems the wave of cheap alcoholic spirits and abuse of cough syrups like Histalix and broncleer, better known as bronco, to get high is diminishing among youths in Mutare and in comes the ganja cake (marijuana cake). Made from cannabis butter, ganja cake has become the in-style cheap way to get high for youths, going for only $1 per slice or per scone.

This was revealed during a speech and prize-giving day held last Friday at Mutare Boys’ High School where the school head, Mr Matthew Tondoya, appealed to parents and law enforcement agents to chip in to contain the ganja cake influence among school children.

He said the ganja cake was selling mostly in the high-density suburbs of Sakubva, Hobhouse and Dangamvura and had slowly become popular among students in school, especially those ranging from the age of 15, 16 and 17.

“I am seriously worried about the ganja cake selling in the high-density areas. This is a very serious case of child abuse and I am getting worried as it has encroached into my school and several other schools in Manicaland.

“We have since engaged the police and hope they will take far-reaching action to contain the selling of ganja cake, especially to school children,” said Mr Tondoya.

Investigations by The Weekender revealed that the ganja cake was one of the cheapest ways to get high, but if consumed to excess it is very dangerous.

“This has always been there, my brother. The ganja cake will make you so high, you instantly feel like you are on top of the world. You quickly get under the influence, but if taken to excess one can totally lose it and anything can happen.

“Blackouts are common in most cases if consumed to excess,” said one of the consumers, who just identified himself as Jimmy.
At one point between 2011 and 2013 if it was not the cheap cane spirits like Zed and Lawidzani, it was Bronco which was now popular among youths who often have little disposable income to buy decent beer to get high.

Mr Tondoya said the breakdown in family institutions was also one of the main causes of drug abuse by teenagers and youths.
Mr Tondoya urged parents and guardians to be more involved in their children’s welfare.

“In our African tradition, the family used to be the pillar of guidance. Most parents are now too busy and society no longer cares if it is not their child, so youths are turning to drugs for relief.

“Drug abuse by children is a serious matter that requires collective resistance from parents, community and the law enforcement authorities.
“If not contained, drug abuse in schools will lead to a degenerated society of redundant youths, who will end up being thieves and thugs,” said Mr Tondoya.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Enock Chishiri said no reported cases of the ganja cake abuse in schools had come to their attention.

He, however, urged parents and school heads to report such cases to them so that thorough investigations are conducted.
“I cannot say abuse of ganja cake is now rife in Manicaland because we have not received any reports of it. We just have a few cases that have come up, of students who consume marijuana, both boys and girls.

“I, however, want to urge parents and school authorities to report to the police such matters so that we work hand in hand to curb the problem.
“We are always visiting various schools in the province doing campaigns against drug abuse and if such matters are alerted to us we are ever ready to come and assist,” said Insp Chishiri.