Story by Learnmore Jenya
AFFILIATES of ZANU-PF have joined forces in Zvishavane to intensify the fight against drug and substance abuse, amid growing concern over the impact of narcotics on communities.
The collaborative campaign aims to strengthen grassroots awareness and mobilise communities against the rising abuse of substances such as crystal meth, marijuana and codeine-based mixtures, which authorities say are destroying families and undermining productivity.
Community leaders warned that the crisis poses serious social and economic consequences if left unchecked.
National Chairperson for Gulewankulu 4ED, Mr Gift Tizoro said cultural platforms were being leveraged to spread anti-drug messages.
“We joined hands with other affiliates in efforts to address the issue of drug and substance abuse in our communities. We understand that if our Gulewankulus start dancing, people will be enticed to come and watch, thereby using the platform to preach the gospel to the community, and we have managed to join hands with other affiliates,” he said.
Young Women for ED Midlands Chairperson, Mrs Dorcas Masango, said tackling drug abuse was critical to national development.
“These collective efforts by our affiliates are expected to make an impact for our young people, and such programmes can make a positive impact. Zimbabwe cannot reach middle-income status if its youth are shackled by addiction, if its communities are destabilised by drugs, and if its schools and workplaces are haunted by absenteeism and hopelessness,” she said.
National Chairperson for National Achievements Minority 4ED, Honourable Mian Sohail, said affiliates were complementing Government efforts to ensure awareness campaigns reach all communities.
“As affiliates, we are complementing the Government’s efforts to ensure the word has reached every corner of the country. Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo. The President has repeatedly stated that the future of the nation depends on the health and well-being of its youth, and the Government is backing these words with decisive action,” he said.
ZANU-PF Zvishavane District Coordinating Committee Political Commissar, Cde Andrew Utonga said unity among stakeholders was key.
“The efforts by these affiliates are highly commendable to our party. We have the same objectives and goals in this initiative; therefore, if they can be able to work together, there is going to be sanity as far as the issue of substance and drug abuse is concerned. The involvement of various stakeholders and affiliates in addressing the drug and substance scourge in communities is inevitable only if collective efforts and mechanisms are put in place,” he said.
Zvishavane District Development Coordinator, Mr Darlington Chokera, urged communities to take an active role in identifying and reporting offenders.
“As Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, we have taken a firm position that drug and substance abuse must be confronted decisively. Firstly, as communities, we must focus on identification and elimination. We must identify drugs, drug peddlers and places where drugs are sold and abused. Once identified, we must work closely with community leaders, law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities to eliminate this menace. Silence only protects criminals; reporting saves lives. Secondly, leaders and elders let us preach what we teach,” he said.
Officials said achieving Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 goal of attaining upper middle-income status depends on building healthy, drug-free communities.
