Chronicle Editor
Nqobile Tshili, Online Reporter
TSHOLOTSHO North National Assembly member Mr Libion Sibanda has said “injengu” alcohol is destroying lives of the young and old in the district and contributing to an increase in crime rate.
The brew has an alcohol content of up to 40 percent but sells for a price that is a fraction of regular beer which is about 5 percent.
Imbibers often pass out after taking injengu, which is available even at retail outlets in the country.
He said this while contributing to the debate on programmes to curb drug and substance abuse by the youths in the National Assembly.
Legislators from across the country raised concerns over alcohol abuse.
“As a result of this substance abuse, we are now faced with an increase in crime rate which has compromised the safety of our communities. In Tsholotsho where I come from, we have a problem with one whisky like alcohol called Ranger or commonly known as injengo. It has claimed many lives of our youths and elderly,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said there is a need for the Government to ban the production and distribution of such substances as failure to deal with some of the producers will be destructive to communities.
Mr Sibanda said idleness could be one of the reasons contributing to an increase in alcohol and substance abuse and there is a need for the Government to establish training institutions for unemployed youth so that they get skills.
“We have noted the problems and challenges resulting from drug abuse among our youth, be it rural or urban. The main base of this substance abuse being unemployment which has rocked our communities in recent years. In order to address these issues as Government, we should be able, as a matter of urgency, to create employment or skills training centres for our youth,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said Government should also establish district-based abuse counselling and rehabilitation institutions for drug addicts.
-@nqotshili
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter