Blessing Chizhande
Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
VICE President Colonel (Rtd) Dr Kembo Mohadi has called for increased investment in drug rehabilitation and counselling centres across the country, saying culture can play a key role in fighting drug and substance abuse.
VP Mohadi said the country’s drug problem was no longer confined to young people, warning that it was threatening families, communities and Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage.
He was speaking at the inaugural Tshiṱaudze Heritage Festival at Tshiṱaudze Cultural Village in Mpande, Beitbridge, on Sunday.
The festival, held from September 25 to 27, celebrated TshiVenda, Sesotho, Vha Lemba and Shangani cultures through dance, food, crafts and oral history.
Addressing thousands of villagers, traditional leaders, learners and Government officials, VP Mohadi said the country was facing a drug epidemic cutting across generations.
“The scourge of drugs and substance abuse — mbanje, crystal meth (mutoriro, guka), illicit brews like musombodhiya, cough syrups — is destroying our heritage across all ages. It is no longer just a youth problem. We see fathers, mothers, and even grandparents trapped,” he said.
VP Mohadi said communities affected by substance abuse risked losing their ability to pass cultural knowledge from one generation to another.
“A high community cannot protect its culture. A drunk elder cannot teach TshiVenda proverbs. A mother lost to drugs cannot conduct Domba lessons. A young man on mutoriro cannot dance Tshikona or work the fields,” he said.
He said drug abuse was also contributing to family breakdown, gender-based violence, crime, teenage pregnancies and school drop-outs.
While Government had intensified its anti-drug campaign, VP Mohadi said more attention should be placed on prevention, counselling and rehabilitation.
He called for increased investment in rehabilitation centres and cultural mentorship programmes to help those affected by substance abuse return to productive lives.
The Vice President also challenged traditional leaders to use traditional institutions to complement Government efforts in fighting drugs.
He identified traditional initiation schools as potential mentorship spaces where young people could be taught life skills, reproductive health and self-respect.
VP Mohadi urged traditional leaders to work with police, schools, clinics, the media and community radio stations to create drug-free communities.
“The Traditional Leaders Act mandates you to maintain cultural values and public order. I charge you to work with police, the media, community radio stations like Lotsha FM 90.1 (in Beitbridge), schools and clinics to create Drug-
Free Chiefdoms. Without discipline, there is no heritage to preserve,” he said.
He said cultural festivals such as Tshiṱaudze were in line with Government’s Revised National Arts, Culture and
Heritage Policy, National Youth Policy and Vision 2030.
Online Reporter