Staff Writer
As drug and substance abuse by youths continues to rise, Government is escalating its crackdown against drug peddlers and youths caught partaking, in an effort to discourage the vice.
This comes as the society at large is currently grappling with increasing levels of drug and substance abuse that was driven by a spate of COVID-19 lockdowns which left most youths in urban areas idle, at home.
In a statement on social media recently, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa lashed out at drug lords that provide easy access to drugs.
“We are witnessing a shocking rise in substance abuse in our society. We need a collective effort as a society to end this drug and substance abuse before it is too late.
“As Government, our collective approach is to cut easy access to drugs for youths by targeting those who sell and supply drugs and banned substances. To all our youths, if you are caught on the wrong side of the law, there will be consequences. There is no compromise on that.”
The most commonly abused drugs and substances are marijuana, mutororiro, kambwa and alcohol.
Early this year, Government launched a sting operation which netted thousands of drug lords in townships that were selling drugs and banned substances to youths.
To complement Government’s efforts, Zanu Pf has also joined the crusade against drug abuse among the youths by initiating anti-drug abuse campaigns nationwide through organising friendly soccer matches, where they then use as platforms to educate youths on substance and drug abuse.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana took to twitter and heaped praise on the initiative.
“Mhondoro Ngezi, the fight against substance abuse in our communities needs all hands on deck. Youths from a major political entity have held No to Drug Abuse Campaigns in Ward 1, 3, 5 and 8,” he said.
Apart from the Government's call, civic society organisations such as the Students and Youths Working on Reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT) have also joined hands in the call against substance abuse.
