The Hwange based adolescent and gender advocacy organisation Bwalo Matilikilo Trust
(BMT) is geared to fight and address drug and substance abuse as a way of curbing sexual
gender abuse, child marriages and teenage or unwanted pregnancies in Hwange district.
Zimbabwe has been battling with drug and substance abuse resulting in the government
embarking on a nationwide anti-drug blitz and nabbing more than 2000 suspects in the
proess.
The Director of the Bwalo Matilikilo Trust (BMT) Anna Mandizha Ncube, indicated that
drug and substance abuse were key drivers to teenage and unwanted pregnancies among the
youths.
Most victims of teenage pregnancies are a result of drug abuse as young girls seek comfort in
drugs whenever they encounter problems.
As a result of this false belief, the young girls fall victim to abuse when they are on drugs.
Thus BMT is on a mission to deal with the drug abuse first form them to tackle their core
business of Sexual Reproductive Human Rights (SRHR), she said.
Mandizha-Ncube said her organisation will be working with stakeholders in surveying the
root cause of drug abuse in Hwange.
“We want to conduct a survey with our stakeholders which can have data of situational
specifics for Hwange urban and rural. We want to have a holistic intervention around issues
to do with drug and substance abuse,” she told Indonsakusa.
“There is need for awareness raising so that communities and citizens know that drug abuse
is failing our children. Awareness raising is also required on the benefits of accessing
relevant information and how one can use that information to shun from on drug abuse,”
Anna Mandizha-Ncube added.
The organisation has been advocating for access to sexual and reproductive health services
for adolescents and running a campaign to end gender based violence in the district.
However, the BMT director said the new law will assist in enhancing stakeholders efforts in
ending early marriages which are prevalent in Hwange district.
Ncube was not happy with the silence of early marriages in the district which is rampant but
is not reported to relevant authorities. It is unfortunate that this silence has led to the girls
who are married off at an early age to suffer a range of rights abuse such as education and
health among others.