Stakeholders walk against drug, substance abuse

VARIOUS stakeholders from Bulawayo and Matabeleland North provinces comprising officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) and police last Thursday held an anti-drug awareness campaign in the city

The event, which was held under the theme: “Walking against drug and substance abuse” kicked off with a march led by the ZPCS brass band.

The procession started at 7.30AM from the corner of Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and 10th Avenue and ended at Baines Junior School in North End suburb.

This comes as the Government has declared drug and substance abuse as a national threat and has since established a technical committee to address the scourge.

Young people constitute the majority of drug and substance users and concerns have been raised that some of them were even abusing unconventional drugs including fluorescent lamp powder and elements from diapers.

Drug and substance abuse is increasingly becoming a peace and security threat with most of the affected young people being involved in violent activities that threaten social harmony.

President Mnangagwa has set up an inter-ministerial taskforce on drug and substance abuse as part of his administration’s efforts to end the scourge which remains a great threat to the attainment of Vision 2030.

The taskforce is chaired by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and deputised by the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation. The taskforce technical officers are continuously being trained on curbing drug and substance abuse by the Government with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The drug and substance abuse menace has since been elevated to a National Committee chaired by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri- Kashiri.

Zimbabwe is also working towards a drug-free society through a drug masterplan, which will help the country achieve Vision 2030. The masterplan aims to deal with drug and substance abuse in society.

Thursday’s event was attended by teachers drawn from different schools in Bulawayo and Matabeleland North provinces.

Most of those who participated in the awareness campaign were attending a five-day workshop on learner profiling, a new programme which was recently introduced by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. Under the programme, the ministry has created a database to keep a record of learners’ information to monitor their growth.

Learner profiling will also assist the teachers in curbing drug use as they are able to quickly notice behaviour change.

Speaking during the event, SRC co-ordinator for Matabeleland North Mr Newman Masuku said there is a need to promote physical exercise and sporting disciplines such as gymnastics, volleyball, netball, chess and wrestling in schools for the social well-being of learners as it helps to keep them away from drugs.

“There are benefits to walking starting from the Government level as it helps reduce the bill on health and our body systems get strengthened. If we reduce the health bill, the Government can then allocate the funds to other critical areas that need the funding,” he said.

Mr Masuku said exercise also reduces non-communicable diseases like hypertension hence there is a need for individuals to exercise.

The officer commanding ZPCS in Matabeleland North Commissioner Netsai Hlabano urged participants to exercise regularly for them to live healthier lives and improve their mental health.

“We established this as a programme to ensure officers are fit physically and mentally and also keeping them away from drugs. We, therefore, saw it prudent to partner with different stakeholders such as ZRP, SRC and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education,” she said.