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THE proliferation of dangerous drugs on the streets of Bulawayo is a serious cause for concern and law enforcement agents, community leaders, churches, schools and city residents should join forces in fighting the vice.

We are alarmed that young children are increasingly falling prey to drug pushers who peddle cheap concoctions of stimulants such as Bron Cleer, a potent cough syrup, dagga and Diazepam tablets.

These substances are popular with teenagers because they get them “high” quickly without them spending as much money as they would to achieve the same state through taking alcohol.

However, what they are blissfully unaware of is that these dangerous drugs can kill, cause brain damage and kidney failure. Diazepam – also known as Valium – can cause death especially if mixed with other drugs.

It is used under controlled environments to treat depression, anxiety and seizures but is now being abused to achieve an instant “high” through mixing it with alcohol and other drugs.

That is a recipe for disaster.

According to medical experts, prolonged use of Diazepam can cause liver, bladder and kidney damage.

The rise in anti-social behaviour in Bulawayo can be directly linked to the abuse of drugs and other stimulants with drug dealers targeting teenagers of school going age at Vuzu parties and other places where young people socialise.

We reported on Monday how a police officer from Bulawayo undergoing disciplinary action for allegedly deserting the force was arrested with his wife and three other people for running a drug cartel that sold dangerous substances to clients that include school children.

Police recovered about 5kg of dagga, 420x100ml of Adco-Salterpyn Cough Syrup and Bron Cleer Cough Syrup including about 300 Diazepam tablets following a raid on the police officer’s drug den last Friday.

Samuel Tambooneyi (29) and his wife Pride Chaingei (27) both residing along Masotsha Avenue and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street were arrested following a sting operation at their house.

The couple allegedly sourced the dagga from Malawi and got the cough mixtures and tablets from a syndicate based in South Africa.

In a related development, on Monday, scores of residents demonstrated at Entumbane Police Station in Bulawayo against drug dealers who are allegedly selling drugs to their children in the suburb.

The slogan-chanting residents waved placards with messages urging the police to arrest culprits.

“Police please do your job, investigate, arrest and prosecute culprits,” read some of the placards.

The Chronicle caught up with residents during the demonstration and they alleged the main culprit is a 39-year-old woman popularly known as maHadebe but police said they have no incriminating evidence against her.

They said she has been selling drugs including dagga and broncho, a potent cough mixture commonly known as ngoma, to their children for years.

One of the residents, only identified as sekaMduduzi, accused police of turning a blind eye to maHadebe’s alleged drug dealing.

“She’s now an expert at this. She has been doing it for over four years and has infiltrated most of the western suburbs. Residents have been complaining about her but nothing is being done. She’s selling dagga, those pink pills and ngoma. We suspect that she has connections with the police,” said sekaMduduzi.

Another fuming resident who only identified himself as Moyo, said: “Everyone knows she sells drugs.

She is destroying the future of our children. Over the years we’ve engaged the police but nothing has come out of it. She’s killing our children and stealing their future.”

Ward 10 Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association (BPRA) chairman Mr Peter Sadza said Entumbane has become an epicentre of drug dealing which has hugely affected teenagers and school children.

“We are worried about the high rate of drug dealing in our area. They sell drugs to our teenagers especially girls who end up being uncontrollable. After taking these drugs they act strangely. Drug dealing steals the future of our children and we are saying no to such cruel activities,” he said.

We are equally concerned about the drug problem in the city and urge the police to intensify efforts to curb the menace.

A concerted effort is required particularly from the community to work hand in hand with the police in eradicating the problem.

We are glad that the residents of Entumbane have chosen the correct way of venting their anger at the proliferation of drug dealing in their area by demonstrating peacefully.

The police should take this as a challenge to rid the area of drugs.

Residents should realise that police work on the basis of evidence and need solid proof to nail suspects.

They can assist the police by providing tips on the activities of drug peddlers in real time so that they are nabbed in the act.

Parents also have a crucial role to play by deterring their children from consuming drugs as they destroy their future.