Online ReporterFaith Moyo
AS the rising generation, we are the architects of our nation’s destiny.
We carry the solemn responsibility not only to preserve the economic foundations laid before us but to cultivate them into something greater.
However, a shadow currently looms over this potential.
How can we build a prosperous Zimbabwe when some youths remain shackled by the invisible chains of crystal meth and marijuana?
The frontline of this struggle is within our learning institutions.
Across the country, schools are transforming sports fields, drama stages and morning assemblies into shields against addiction.
These platforms are no longer just for recreation; they are vital forums where the grim realities of substance abuse are laid bare.
Through these programmes, learners are being taught that “fitting in” with the wrong crowd can be calamitous.
As we approach National Youth Day, the urgency of this message must reach a crescendo.
It is not enough for the dangers of drugs to be mentioned in passing; they must be the central theme of our dialogue.
This mission must become a song played so frequently and so loudly that every learner and staff member eventually learns the rhythm and begins to dance to the tune of a drug-free life.
The toll on Zimbabwe is visible and heartbreaking.
We see brilliant minds dulled by intoxication and bodies drained of the vitality required for national development.
When the youth — the engine of our economy — resort to toxic substances, that engine stalls.
The consequences are devastatingly personal.
The sharp intelligence of our youth is being blunted; a rising tide of psychological disorders is sweeping through our communities, and we are facing the tragedy of untimely deaths that rob families of their children and the nation of its workers.
To move forward, we must look back.
Today’s youth must recommit to the values, grit and ethos bequeathed to us by the brave sons and daughters who fought for our liberation. They fought for a free Zimbabwe; we must now fight for a sober Zimbabwe.
True freedom does not come from a substance; it comes from a clear mind and a dedicated heart.
We must distance ourselves from toxic social circles that invite unnecessary trouble and instead lean into the strength of our heritage.
The fight against drug and substance abuse is not a solo mission — it is a national mandate.
If we remain divided by our vices, we will surely fall.
But if we stand united in our resolve to protect our health and our heritage, we will conquer this epidemic and build the thriving nation we deserve.
Faith Moyo is an Advanced Level Arts learner and stays in Mabvuku. Learners can write short poems/stories or about special events at their schools and send to [email protected]
Peter Tanyanyiwa