WITH the country grappling with the undesirable surge in drug and substance abuse
amongst the youths, their inclusion in economic activities can help reduce the uptake
of the illicit substances.
The country is experiencing a sharp rise in methamphetamine use, which is
commonly known on the streets as crystal meth, mutoriro or dombo.
Because of the high rate of unemployment thousands of youths around the country
indulge in the highly addictive stimulants affecting the central nervous system and
can waste away users.
The Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Tino Machakaire, said
during the Masvingo Youth, Sport, and Arts Provincial Business Forum which was
held at Masvingo Polytechnic, that supporting business growth of the youths will
keep them occupied and contribute immensely and positively to the fight against
drug abuse.
“I am convinced that supporting growth of entrepreneurship especially among the
youth will contribute towards the fight against drug abuse. One of the reasons of
drug abuse is idleness and hence promoting youth active participation in economic
activities will reduce the demand for drugs.”
He said Zimbabwe is a youthful country, which stands to benefit a lot if the youth are
economically active.
Machakaire also emphasised the need to move from just talking about the youth
dividend’s potential to actually realising it.
“We need to take the issue of drug abuse seriously as we can all see how it
threatens the future of this country. The youth are the future and if they are
destroyed by drugs then the country is doomed.
Let us put our effort and focus on pursuing productive activities rather than resorting
to drugs. This way, we will be assured that problems we are currently facing with
drug abuse will be solved.
“As the President is always on record saying ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’. As
Masvingo Province, I encourage you to take the onus to develop our country through
business development.”
Statistics compiled in 2021 by the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network
revealed that 60 percent of psychiatric admissions were due to drug abuse.
An estimated 80 percent of these were people aged 16 to 25, including schoolgirls.
Zimbabwes illicit substance use problem increased dramatically during the Covid-19
pandemic and of particular concern has been the upward trend in drug/substance
use among adolescents and youths.
Commonly used substances in Zimbabwe include glue, broncleer, mangemba, cane
sprit, marijuana, codeine and methamphetamine (crystal meth).
Porous borders have seen drugs such as broncleer (containing codeine) finding their
way illegally into the country in huge volumes.
To further compound this, local production is now also rampant with drugs such as
musombodia, a colourless highly intoxicating drink made from ethanol and
emblements powder, which is being illegally manufactured and distributed
throughout Zimbabwe.
Most users have been recorded as homeless children, who engage in this behaviour
for various reasons, among them relieving stressful situations, boosting courage for
engaging in criminal activities and using sedating substances to help them sleep.
However, very high unemployment rates in Zimbabwe, coupled with poverty and
despair, have resulted in increasing numbers of youthful citizens also turning to the
use of drugs as a way of entertainment.
This has been exacerbated by the ready availability and affordability of these
substances to adolescents and youths as they interact within their social circles.
The just-ended Covid-19 lockdown may also have compounded the situation as
youth, including those of school-going age, found themselves idle with limited
recreational activities, especially in high-density suburbs.
