MARONDERA- ZiCHIRe will play its role in fighting drugs and substance abuse in
the province and has since partnered the Government in some of the programmes.
The organisation’s director Walter Chikanya, addressing delegates at an antidrugs
campaign held in Marondera recently, expressed the urgency required to stop drug
and substance abuse.
He said: “Studies have shown that there is an increase in drug and substance abuse
among the youths in our communities. Therefore, as ZiCHIRe, we decided to come
up with a programme targeting the young people so that we can highlight risks of
drugs and substance abuse.
We are committed to playing our role in this fight and we are even funding some
programmes and activities to help young people stay away from taking drugs and
other dangerous substance.”
In an interview, the Minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and
Devolution Dr Aplonia Munzverengwi called on the security sector to deal decisively
with those supplying illegal drugs and ensure they are brought to book.
She said: The issue of drug and substance abuse has now become a national
problem and the illegal drug supply chain has to be broken if we are to win this war.
“Our security sector is playing its part and we have a lot of people especially youths
being caught and arrested in connection with drug and substance abuse. I can tell
you that in the next 10 or 20 years, this generation composed of youths now, will be
wiped out. This will affect us as a nation.
“Drug and substance abuse has a negative impact on us. Abusers end up being
disobedient to elders, they are always drunk. They will end up stealing and selling
property just to get money to buy more drugs.
“So we are saying, to those tasked with legally fighting this scourge, please, go to
the source. Yes there are those who abuse the illegal drugs but where are they
getting them.
We must get to know on who is the agent, who is the supplier. Let it be a task to
break that chain completely. There is a supplier out there. If we cannot establish
where our children are getting these drugs, we will not win the fight,” she said.
