Media key In Fight Against Drugs

MUTARE-Chief Director in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and
Broadcasting Services, Jonathan Gandari has voiced his concerns about the
increased use and glamourized promotion of drugs and other substances by
celebrities in the country.

Speaking during a Drug and Substance Abuse committee review meeting in
Mutare recently, Gandari proposed specific media regulations over the
proliferation of drug-related content, especially on radio.

According to the chief director, the proposed media censoring of the type of
music and videos given airplay would apply to the proliferation and promotion
of drug-related content, largely by people in the show business on social media,
music videos, movies, skit, reality shows and others.

He thus explained that such regulations became necessary because abuse of
drugs and other substances had resulted in the increased numbers of youths
imprisoned or in need of rehabilitation in recent years.

“The need for such regulations on what we play or write has become necessary
because abuse of drugs and other substances has seen a considerable rise in the
number of youths indulging in substance abuse in recent years, and according to
the world drug report 2023, the burden of drug and substance abuse in Africa is
disproportionally high among young people below the age of 35. Social media,
music videos, movies, skits, and reality shows have become some of the
platforms through which young people are exposed to drugs in a glamourized
manner,” he said.

He stressed that the glamorization of drugs through the media by popular
people and celebrities seen by most youths as role models is a major
contributing factor to the rise in drug abuse and by extension, rise in youth
crime.

Noting that the scourge cannot be adequately handled from one end, he
implored the media to be exemplary in its reporting and screening of content for
airplay.

“The media has the primary responsibility to champion the fight against drug
and substance abuse and hence the proposal for the media to censor and report
positively on how to drug abuse. We should draw a leaf from the HIV/AIDS

media campaign and its impact it had on society in addressing the scourge. It is
my firm conviction that wide consultation with all appropriate stakeholders will
eventually lead to a consensus to protect young Zimbabweans from the scourge
of drug abuse.

“Let me add that the proposal to regulate and criminalise drug abuse-related
content on media and, by extension, social media is not to prevent celebrities
from living their lifestyles. It is to reduce, if not to eliminate, exposure of drug
abuse-related content on the media to prevent young minds from adopting a
lifestyle they are not equipped to handle, which has led many to crimes,
hospitals, and prisons,” he added.

The Government continues to heighten the fight against illegal inflows of illicit
drugs, substances and alcohol throughout the country.

As of October 24, a total of 486 offenders had been arrested. Out of the 486
offenders, 20 were suppliers who were referred to court while 466 were drug
users who paid deposit fines.