Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Mutare Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police(ZRP) has intensified its crime prevention awareness campaign in Manicaland Province, urging learners to reject drugs and substance abuse, bullying, child marriage and cybercrime as part of efforts to build safer schools and communities.
The campaign seeks to educate young people about the legal, social and health consequences of engaging in criminal activities while encouraging them to make responsible life choices.
Chipinge District is a drug hotspot that is used as a transit point by smugglers bringing in illegal drugs from Mozambique, while access to child marriages is still rampant as perpetrators flee with underage girls to Mozambique to avoid arrest.
Speaking at New Horizon College and Chipinge Secondary School, the Officer Commanding ZRP Chipinge District, Chief Superintendent Edmore Kelosi, warned learners that drug and substance abuse remains a growing concern that fuels violence, school dropouts and other criminal activities.
“Our nation is moving forward under Vision 2030. However, that vision will remain nothing if our most precious resource, the youths are destroyed by making reckless choices before they reach adulthood,” he said.
“The biggest threat targeting your generation is drugs. Some of your peers might tell you that taking these substances makes you look ‘cool’ or that it helps to handle stress. That is a dangerous lie.
“Drugs multiply problems. They destroy your brain, spark severe mental health challenges, ruin your mental health and force you out of school. If you are caught dealing, carrying or using drugs, you will be arrested. A single criminal record means your dreams of becoming a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer or a pilot vanish instantly.
“Schools must be havens for learning, not battlefields. Bullying is not a harmless rite. Whether it is physical violence, hazing or verbal intimidation, it is a crime.”
He said under Zimbabwean law, bullying is prosecuted as criminal assault.
“If you participate in youth gangs or organised fights between schools, you are setting a direct path to a juvenile correctional facility,” he said.
“To those being bullied, please speak out, protect each other and reject violence. We live in a digital world and your phone is a powerful tool for learning, but it can also become a crime scene.
“Many young people do not realise that the internet never forgets. Under the Cyber and Data Protection Act, specific online behaviours are serious criminal offences.
“Sending insults or threatening messages on social media platforms are crimes, so is creating or sharing explicit images of yourself or peers.”
Chief Spt Kelosi also warned the learners against indulging in sexual activities, advising that intercourse with a person under the age of 18 years is a serious offence.
School authorities welcomed the initiative, saying it equips learners with knowledge that helps them avoid criminal activities and become responsible citizens.
