Story by Peter Chivhima
THE ZANU PF Women’s League has launched a bold initiative to curb the sale of illicit drugs around schools, in a move aimed at eradicating the social ill and protecting future generations.
Spearheaded by the ZANU-PF Harare Province Women’s League Education Department, the campaign responds to growing concerns that some vendors operating near schools are dealing in drugs, exposing children to the social ill which is threatening to wipe out generations.
This Monday, the team was in Borrowdale area, near St John’s Educational Trust in Harare where they engaged some vendors who work near the school.
The initiative reflects the ruling party’s broader commitment to protecting learners from harmful substances and promoting a safe and drug-free learning environment.
“Our research indicates that vendors operating near schools are among the major contributors to the distribution of drugs to our children. We are here today to educate them on the dangers of such actions and to urge them to move to designated vending areas,” ZANU PF Harare Province Secretary for Youth Affairs, Cde Takura Madziya said.
“The issue of drug and substance abuse is now a cancer in our country and the initiative behind is to try and protect our children from the scourge of drug and substance abuse. We have received complaints from parents about the issue of drugs being injected into food items. So we are going throughout the country raising awareness,” ZANU-PF Harare Province Women’s League Deputy Secretary for Education, Cde Loice Magweba stated.
Government is intensifying efforts to combat drug and substance abuse through several strategic initiatives, including the establishment of a National Drug and Substance Elimination Committee and the rollout of support centres across the country.
