Story by Memory Chamisa
HARARE – VARIOUS stakeholders, including journalists, are playing their part in raising awareness on drug and substance abuse, as the country battles the scourge which is threatening to wipe out generations.
Journalist and former drug addict, Columbus Mushore, is among those at the forefront of the campaign.
“I once abused drugs, and it greatly affected my life and career. I lost relationships and time I could have used to progress,” Mushore said.
Mushore arrived in Harare this Thursday from Plumtree where he started a walkathon dubbed Heal Us Zimbabwe, through which he hopes to raise funds for the construction of a rehabilitation centre in his community.
The scribe is not alone in this cause.
“I started this walkathon on June 2 and arrived in Harare on June 23. T his walkathon is meant to raise funds for me to build a halfway house for rehabilitation as I want to assist other drug abusers who are battling to heal from this scourge,” he said.
Other anti-drug abuse advocates under the banner: Visionary Cadres Association of Zimbabwe, also travelled for around 400 km from Zvishavane with a clear message.
For them, drug and substance abuse is affecting every sphere of society.
“I had a child who abused drugs and as a mother, I decided to join my fellow cadres on this journey as we educate the young to shun drugs,” a participant noted.
“I used to abuse drugs because I thought it was a way out of stress, but I realised that it added more to my problems, hence I decided to seek help and today I am strongly against the use of drugs,” another said.
Representatives from government and the ruling ZANU PF party, welcomed the anti-drug campaigners, and rallied all Zimbabweans to unite in fighting the scourge.
Director of Finance and Administration in the Harare Metropolitan Province, Ms Margret Nyakujara said the government is scaling up infrastructure for rehabilitation.
“The scourge of drug abuse has permeated all facets of society and is prevalent among the youth hence the government is on a drive to put in place rehabilitation centres across the country’s provinces. One of the centres that had been under construction in Harare is complete and we now expect it to open its doors and offer services any time soon,” she said.
ZANU PF Secretary for War Veterans’ Affairs, Cde Douglas Mahiya emphasised the importance of community-driven responses.
“We would like to bring together community members, organisations, and stakeholders to promote a shared goal of reducing drug abuse. This generation has fallen short of what our generation fought for and if we do not condone this behaviour, we will lose future leaders of tomorrow.”
Last year, the government launched the Multi-Sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan, after noting that the scourge had become a significant public health, socio-economic and national security threat.
