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Quinton Rusero and Tafara Chibanda
THE Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training met church leaders in Harare yesterday where they shared the Zimbabwe Multisectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan (2024-2030).
The grand plan is meant to confront drug and substance abuse and its challenges to national security, public health, social stability and development as well as its impact on individuals, families and communities in Zimbabwe.
The plan sets a vision for a healthy and secure nation free of illicit drug and substance abuse.
Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister, Tino Machakaire, said he invited the churches to share what President Munangagwa asked him to deliver with regards to the challenges the nation is facing with drugs and substance abuse.
“The (National Youth Service) programme further seeks to equip youths with relevant entrepreneurial skills which enable them to uniformly participate in national development.
“It is programmed so that it can help ameliorate the problem of substance abuse.
“It is there to mould youths with leadership skills which will help them become role models and advocates against substance abuse,” Min Machakaire said.
The six-month training programme includes three months of attachment.
The Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Kudakwashe Mupamhanga, said the youths must be encouraged to take professional courses so they can be their own leaders.
“As the Ministry of Youths, we believe it is important to involve churches as we fight the battle against substance abuse.
“The government cannot handle this battle alone.
“We have worked with the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) to implement programmes like horticulture, among others, so as to make them more practical and busy, hence we encourage other churches to do the same.”
Acting Youth Chief Director, Elias Murinda, said the Government was reviving the National Youth Programme programme to empower youths in the face of escalating substance abuse.
He said the programme, operating in two centres – Dadaya and Nyanga – aims to instill orientation, discipline and national values in youths.
“The programme will teach youths about our national values and Ubuntu.
“We believe this will help reduce substance abuse among youths.”Bishop Never Muparutsa, of Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe, said:
“We must teach children to be responsible from a young age, not try to instill values in youths who have already engaged in drug abuse,” he said.
“We need to reach more youths to make a significant impact.
“Religion shapes the young generation to refrain from engaging in some activities which are dangerous like taking drugs.”
Online Reporter