Musician Babongile Sibanda to lead 100km walk against drug abuse

A walkathon from Bulawayo to Plumtree and a march around the border town are set for tomorrow as part of efforts to raise awareness and fight against drug and substance abuse.

Leading the 100km walk will be musician Babongile Sibanda, joined by his brother Lewis Sibbs Lura. The duo aims to bring attention to the increasing problem of drug abuse.

They will be joined halfway by Sithabile Moyo at the Usher turn, 50kms from Plumtree, who is travelling from South Africa to support the cause.

In Plumtree, the Vintage Nation Crew will hold a march, meeting up with Babongile, Lewis, and Sithabile upon their arrival. The march will cover key locations in and around Plumtree, culminating at a final meeting point where officials from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Ministry of Health, social services, and local churches are expected to address participants.

In solidarity, DJ Yugoe will perform a 12-hour non-stop set, from 7am to 7pm, to raise awareness through music. Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Ndlovu is also expected to join the walkathon, as he did in last year’s edition at the 20km mark from Plumtree.

One of the event organisers, Handsome “Handy” Sibanda, stressed the urgency of the situation in Plumtree, where drug abuse is rampant among the youth.

“Plumtree is battling a drug abuse crisis, especially among young people. It’s a painful reality tearing families apart, and we risk losing an entire generation. Drugs are an expensive, hard-to-quit habit,” said Handy.

“We don’t claim to know what drives young people to this, and we aren’t here to judge. We’re here to raise awareness, start conversations, and seek solutions. This event is a step toward addressing the problem.”

He called on the community to unite in the fight against drug abuse, adding, “My wish is for every individual in Plumtree to stand up and say no more drugs in our town. If anyone wants to assist or contribute, they can reach out to +263773316635. It’s humbling that we already have two people coming from South Africa specifically for this event.”

@mthabisi_mthire