Teenagers tackle drug abuse

Takudzwa Chihambakwe
“We designed a two-day training course for two students and a teacher from each college, focusing on the basics of theatre. After the training, they went back to their respective schools and shared the knowledge. We saw the fruits today.” Teenagers from the high density suburb of Highfield recently converged at Zimbabwe Hall to fight drug abuse through theatre at the monthly Theatre Inspired Social Unity for Community Organisation and Mobilisation (TISU.COM) event.

Students from various colleges in the community took part in the event that was themed “Day of the African Child Against Drug Abuse, Community Theatre Splash”. Drug abuse has become rampant among Zimbabwean teenagers who perceive it as fashionable.

It is strongly believed that peer education will make a difference in fighting the trend. During the mini theatre festival, the students showcased how teens get hooked onto drugs, their effects and staged ways to deal with culprits.

The seven staged plays, showcased that most teens that are involved in drugs are usually used as peddlers by drug lords who pay them through cash or free drugs. This practise is not only prevalent amongst male teens, their female counterparts are also part of the syndicates.

Speaking on the sidelines of the festival, Edzai Isu founder and producer, Tafadzwa Muzondo said, “This is a community driven product that specialises in theatre for social change.

“We seek to mobilise and conscientise society around pertinent issues that affect them so as to stimulate dialogue and find lasting solutions to deal with the matters. “For the month of June, we were working with students who had always been coming to our monthly shows as spectators. They later approached us expressing their desire to use theatre as a means to communicate various issues,” he explained.

“We designed a two-day training course for two students and a teacher from each college, focusing on the basics of theatre. “After the training, they went back to their respective schools and shared the knowledge. We saw the fruits today.”

Muzondo said the students had shown zeal in theatre. “I am impressed with how they utilised the basics we taught them, but we need to keep working with them to perfect their craft,” he said.

Students from Success College emerged victors on the day and walked away with two books on the theory of theatre and a cash prize courtesy of Edzai Isu. TISU.COM is an initiative of the Edzai Isu Theatre Arts Project.