Online Reporter
Daniel Chigunwe
Herald Correspondent
AS drug and substance abuse, violent crime and child marriages continue to threaten the social fabric of rural communities, a quiet but determined movement is gathering momentum in Mashonaland Central, where legislators and youth leaders are increasingly turning to sport to rescue a generation at risk.
The anti-drug football tournaments held over the weekend in Mazowe and Shamva signal a growing recognition that fighting drug and substance abuse requires more than law enforcement. It demands sustained community engagement, youth empowerment and the creation of positive spaces where young people can channel their energy and talent.
The two districts are among the province’s areas grappling with rising cases of drug abuse, largely fuelled by increased artisanal mining activities. The influx of informal mining settlements has brought with it a cocktail of social challenges, including violent crimes such as murder, assaults, theft, teenage pregnancies and child marriages, with young people bearing the greatest burden.
Against this backdrop, Members of Parliament for Mazowe Central and Mazowe North, Dr Maxmore Njanji and Dr Tsungai Makumbe, recently brought together hundreds of youths through an anti-drug football tournament in Ward 8, Manwanzou district, sending a strong message that sport can become a powerful tool for social transformation.
Addressing participants, the legislators urged young people to reject drugs and substance abuse and instead embrace education, sport and entrepreneurship as pathways to a better future.
“Drug and substance abuse is robbing our communities of a productive generation. As leaders, we cannot afford to stand by while our young people lose their lives, their education and their dreams.
Sport gives our youths hope, discipline and purpose. Through such programmes, we are building stronger communities and encouraging our young people to choose productive lives over destructive habits,” said Dr Njanji.
Dr Makumbe said the responsibility to protect young people rested with the entire community.
“Our youths are the future of this country. They deserve opportunities that inspire them to realise their full potential instead of falling victim to drugs and criminal activities. These tournaments are part of our commitment to creating safe and healthy environments where talent can flourish,” he said.
Over the same weekend, youths from across Shamva District gathered for youth games organised by Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee Youth Affairs Secretary Engineer Ryan Dhokwani. Beyond the sporting competition, the event served as a platform to educate young people on the dangers of drug and substance abuse while promoting discipline, unity and healthy living.
Engineer Dhokwani said empowering young people through sport and community programmes was key to defeating the growing drug menace.
“When we invest in our young people through sport, skills development and community programmes, we are investing in the future of our communities. We must continue creating opportunities that keep our youths positively occupied while inspiring them to reject drugs and become responsible citizens,” he said.
Former Dynamos and Warriors player Kingstone Rinemhota and football personality Big Zuze also challenged the youths to guard their talents by staying away from drugs, warning that substance abuse had destroyed many promising sporting careers.
The simultaneous initiatives reflect a growing appreciation among community leaders that the fight against drug and substance abuse cannot be left to security agencies alone. It requires sustained partnerships involving legislators, youth leaders, schools, churches, parents and the private sector.
As artisanal mining communities continue to expand across parts of Mashonaland Central, bringing both economic opportunities and complex social problems, programmes that provide young people with healthy recreational activities are becoming increasingly important.
The Mazowe and Shamva initiatives demonstrate how community-driven interventions can complement Government’s national campaign against drug and substance abuse by keeping young people engaged, nurturing talent and restoring hope.
For many of the youths who took to the football fields over the weekend, the matches were about more than winning trophies. They represented a chance to choose teamwork over crime, discipline over addiction and hope over despair.
If more communities embrace such initiatives, sport may yet prove to be one of the province’s most effective weapons in safeguarding the future of its young people.
