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Stephen Mpofu

With no loud signs of self-immolation trending, the drugs and substance abuse under which Zimbabwe is in grip threatens to neutralise our Second Republic Government’s philosophy, Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo/ Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ A country is built by its owners.

In fact, the rampant abuse of drugs and substances being experienced threatens to outdo in its dimensions what the imperialist West’s illegal economic embargo has so far achieved in so far as ending individual lives as well as the growth of families and of our national population growth, all of which will obviously negatively impact Zimbabwe’s economic and social growth into a brave new future for us all who survive the substance and drugs scourge.

Which, according to this humble communicologist’s view, impels the Government and all other relative stakeholders to move with speed and in unity in order to save the lives of young people, in particular, imperilled by the abuse of drugs and substances in purview above.

Sources from rehabilitation centres set up to combat the drugs and substance abuse menace point accusing fingers at culprits in some SADC countries for supplying health-destructive materials to which Zimbabweans ignorantly get hooked to the doom of their health or that of their lives at worst.

For instance drunkards are often heard literally singing in their reverie at drinking places the name of a beer brewed together with baby pampers in a neighbouring country to the north of Zimbabwe.

Then there was skunk, a health hazard supplied from a country south of Zimbabwe.

The rehabilitation centre sources also listed guga, bronco, clorpro-mazine, maragado, speed, meth, crank, cannabis, blunt, and ganja as being dangerous to health with mutoriro known to cause infertility and/or impotence.

Young men and young women, or youths in general are particularly vulnerable to the harms caused by drugs and substance abuses. With some of them dropping out of school and/or out of work, thereby imperilling their future.

Yes, rehabilitation centres have been set up but more of the facilities need also to be set up at growth points in rural areas to thwart abuses of drugs and substances with parents.

Parents across the country need to play a critical role in monitoring/supervising the lives of their children with traditional leaders overseeing the safety and security of young people in their designated areas.

In addition, a strong case appears to exist for drugs galas similar to musical galas being held in various public areas such as stadia, with experts educating gatherings on the dangers of drugs and substance abuse.

The public must be made to know that no one from outside but that our destiny as Zimbabweans is in our own hands, and if we turn deaf ears to calls to safeguard our own lives doom will certainly be our portion as a nation.