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Rutendo Kanogoiwa Showbiz Reporter
HOUSE parties by teenagers, popularly known as vuzooms, which are normally done on weekends and off late during school hours, have bounced back in Bulawayo despite concern by parents and runnings in with authorities.

Last week on Friday 16 pupils from Milton High School, Townsend Girls High and Pace College were rounded and arrested by police after they were caught drinking and engaging in illicit activities at Centenary Park.

The pupils all clad in school uniforms were arrested and taken to Bulawayo Central Police Station facing public drinking charges.

The pupils are also believed to have been engaging in sexual activities as there were used condoms near their haven.

A few months ago police raided houses in Kumalo and Matsheumhlope suburbs in Bulawayo where popular groups, Tsama Shona and Team USA held the vuzooms.

These groups comprised boys and girls who were deemed the “it” crew and had the most following at their parties. So popular are these parties that an up-and-coming hip-hop group in the city Prime Suspects has named their album Vuzoom 2.0.

The participants of the vuzooms are school-going teens, from as young as 13 years, who indulge in binge drinking, sex, striptease, and swimming.

Some teenagers who regularly attend the vuzoom parties said they were merely having fun at these parties and parents should not poke their noses into their business.

“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and it’s just about us as teens letting loose and having fun. No strings attached . . . these folks should just give us a break,” said the teen.

Another teen said they did not see anything wrong with these parties as they are mature and know how to handle any situation.

“We do these parties just to have fun and mix and mingle since most of us aren’t allowed to go out at night so it’s the only opportunity we get. It’s unfortunate that people end up fighting and some silly girls get abused but it’s no big deal,” said the teen.

One teen who is below the age of 16 said they take advantage of school sporting days and sports compulsories. The teens meet outside Haddon and Sly Building in the city centre and use their pocket money to hire cars to transport them to the venues of these vuzooms.

“The cars are usually hired from friends at a cost of $40 per night or $60 for the weekend. We also use opportunities such as school exit weekends and fun days to escape from school and camp at any free house with no guardians” said the teen.

Social network WhatsApp is used to plot and plan the next vuzoom and the meeting points are part of groups on the social networking site.

“I’m part of four vuzoom groups on WhatsApp. This is where we plan the next place where we’ll meet and party in the afternoon,” said Chamaine Matanga, 17.

She said buying alcohol at bottle stores in the city was easy as all you had to do was to look older than 18 as no one checks for their IDs.

“If you look over 18 then it’s easy for one to buy the alcohol. They hardly ask for our IDs when we get in to buy. Some people have brothers or sisters who buy it for us while the older members of the vuzoom clique buy the alcohol,” said Matanga.

A parent who only identified herself as Mrs Maphosa said these kids have become a cause of concern as they disappear the whole weekend only to resurface on Sundays.

She also urged the schools to hold career guidance or counselling sessions for the children so as to give them direction.

“These kids need career guidance as they are the future leaders of tomorrow. They might not see anything wrong with their actions but by the time they realise it might be too late and something should be done,” she said.

For unsuspecting parents girls leave the house wearing decent clothes and get to a meeting point where they change to bum shorts and short skirts.

Most kids who fund these parties have parents or family siblings in the Diaspora who send them money at any time without questioning its use.