Story by Tamuka Charakupa
THE government and its development partners are implementing the Safer Campuses Campaign aimed at raising awareness on drug and substance abuse, and gender-based violence in tertiary institutions.
A recent survey conducted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) revealed that at least one out of three females in tertiary institutions has encountered either physical and sexual or verbal abuse from their male counterparts.
Against this background, a Safer Campuses Campaign has been launched in Mashonaland West, with the Chinhoyi University of Technology and the Mupfure Industrial Training College pioneering the initiative.
Mupfure students held an awareness march in Chegutu this Friday, with a clarion call to shun drug and substance abuse taking centre stage.
“As students, we are vulnerable to abuse not only by our fellow students but by surrounding communities who sell and distribute drugs to students,” a student said.
“Lack of resources is driving female students to get involved in toxic relationships resulting with some having unwanted pregnancies, getting involved in drugs and most commonly encountering sexual and physical abuse,” another student said.
“We are marching to send a message to the community that all forms of abuse should stop. We are also trying to enlighten our fellow age mates that drugs are not good for them,” a student stated.
Mupfure Industrial Training College academics are convinced the awareness campaigns are influencing positive community attitudes.
“This safer campuses campaign is responding to the immediate challenge being faced by students particularly girls who are falling victim to physical and sexual abuse. We believe that through these campaigns we are speaking to mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters that the safety of their children or relatives should be a societal priority. We want to thank our partner UNESCO for seeing and implementing a solution to the gap,” assistant dean of Mupfure Industrial Training College, Mr Amon Chapisa said.
“The issue of drug and substance abuse is a national disaster which needs an all-stakeholder approach towards ending the menace. We are conducting these awareness campaigns having realised that communities which are closer to tertiary institutions are also the same who are bringing in toxic substances and also charming your girls into an unrealistic relationship leading to abuse and disease infections,” lecturer of Mupfure Industrial Training College, Mrs Chido Masawi said.
The Safer Campuses Campaigns are being implemented under the theme: ‘Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future’.
