Decisive action needed to save Zim youths from drug and substance abuse

Harare (New Ziana) –Zimbabwe joined the rest of the continent in commemorating Africa Youth Day amid calls for decisive action to deal with the scourge of drug and substance abuse.

Addressing a press conference on the occasion of the commemorations, Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire said the country risked losing a whole generation to drug and substance abuse.

The theme of the Africa Youth Day commemorations this year was “African Year of Human Rights towards Agenda 2063 -The Africa We Want.”

“The government has declared substance and drug abuse as a state of national disaster and there are initiatives the government is taking to make the youth shun this social ill,” said Machakaire.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has since set up a National Committee on Elimination of Drug Abuse chaired by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri to spearhead efforts of fighting the scourge.

“There are many ways that the technical team is doing to fight against this problem, and we have made it very clear that those who supply drugs must be arrested,” said Machakaire.

He said the collective effort of communities and the government is required to end drug and substance abuse.

“Let us work together as a team in awareness campaigns, reporting these drug lords supplying drugs and put this to an end,” he said.

New Ziana