HURUNGWE– Drug abuse, which has become rampant among youths and adults alike, is now a menace and harming the social fabric in Hurungwe district, a local preacher has lamented.
NHAU MANGIRAZI
Pastor Lawrence Berejena of Tabernacle of Grace Church said efforts to curb drug and substance abuse remain a tall order as suppliers are never arrested due to corruption. Gorejena said he is deeply hurt that drug abuse is worsening unchecked among youths in Hurungwe, a prime farming and mining district.
Hurungwe, the second largest district in the country, produces crops such as maize, tobacco, wheat, soya-beans and cotton. Mining is also a major economic sector.
‘‘Our major concern is that those who supply drugs have never been arrested and are scot free. The major bone of contention is that even people from some security agencies, including police officers, are well known drug addicts and have never been arrested. Can they investigate the source of these drugs affecting communities including police officers around Hurungwe and other towns?’’ said the preacher.
He described the drug menace as a big war.
‘‘We are fighting a big war as some communities believe that using drugs is part of life as some of the elderly still take marijuana as part of their life from childhood. The big war is not yet won due to failure to arrest drug suppliers.”
Berejena is a rural-based preacher working under the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Networking Projects.
‘‘For the past four-and-a-half years, I’ve been doing pastoral work in mostly rural and farming areas here in Hurungwe and I am deeply hurt that drug abuse is cutting across all age groups in the district. The worst thing is that drug abuse is regarded as part of normal upbringing that covers farmers, artisanal miners among others. Fish poachers, criminals and touts abuse drugs and these have been addicted. These people have lost conscience and common sense in their actions. Criminals take drugs before engaging in heinous acts,’’ he said.
Berejena bemoaned the lack of a “strict blitz” on drug dealers.
‘‘We are concerned about the suppliers of Bronclear, mutoriro, where marijuana (mbanje), drugs which are common among mainly rural farmers who believe they can accomplish serious farming after taking mbanje that is heavily produced in Hurungwe and Kariba districts. This is due to rampant corruption among state security agencies which don’t take action to bring the suspects to book, including drug suppliers. They are arresting drug addicts and not suppliers.
‘‘We are not happy that the suppliers are well known in Chikangwe and Chiedza high-density suburbs, farms, shopping and rural growth centres, but nothing is being done to curb this. Suppliers have never been arrested. These drug suppliers are well known among rural communities, on farms and Karoi town,’’ the preacher charged.
Tapiwanashe Gutu (28), a youth ambassador with Willpower Zimbabwe, a trust aimed at fighting drug abuse among young people, said the factors contributing to drug abuse include peer pressure, unemployment and lack of guidance.
Gutu has previously worked with the Youth Network on HIV and Aids and Sexual Reproductive Health under the local district Aids committee.
‘‘Our research revealed that youths are being driven into drug abuse due to lack of employment as well as family issues as there is a communication gap in some families. “Furthermore, there are no recreational facilities in some towns, including Karoi. The average drug abusers started when they were 14 years of age. We have tried to assist some of them through counselling, but we lack expertise to embark on the project that may assist our affected youths,’’ said Gutu.
Berejena added that the failure by the Health ministry to avail affordable rehabilitation services is hampering efforts to assist drug addicts, some of whom are now mentally challenged.
‘‘The economic crisis is affecting efforts to have rehabilitation centres around the country. The fees levied by the few available rehabilitation clinics are too expensive for ordinary parents or caregivers.’’
Gutu bemoaned the manner in which drug dens in Karoi are flourishing.
“People have assumptions that drugs are being used by those at these bases but some school children are into drug abuse as well. We have discovered that some youths attending Grade Six and Seven are also into drugs. The best way is to engage these youths in different sporting activities that are not available in our town.
In Karoi, they have established a New Horizon Youths Academy that is working in rehabilitating other youths through sports.
‘‘Unfortunately, our local council doesn’t support our initiative so that we can work closely to help our youths against drug abuse,’’ said Gutu.
Berejena said youthful addicts are stealing from their parents to buy illicit drugs.
‘‘The worst hit youths cannot afford to buy and end up stealing maize from their parents. The children who abuse drugs are a burden to their own parents.”
He called on the police to arrest the suspects.
Berejena said there is a need for serious advocacy on drug abuse.
‘‘A lot has been done as part of awareness on HIV and Aids as well as Covid-19, which is the latest global pandemic, but little has been done on drug abuse. We need to move forward and make a difference. Drug abuse has exposed the families, communities and nation at large. We must be united to fight drug abuse. Touts are the worst suspects and we need to move forward as a nation in this fight,’’ said Berejena.
Gutu concurred that drug abuse is harming Karoi.
“We have drug addicts who are now mental cases. These youths are now mentally disturbed due to lack of rehabilitation. Early this year, we had families that offered to detoxify those affected but it has not worked well as they are addicted. It is a challenge for us as a community and nation at large.”
‘‘There is lack of political will from the government and other political players, as well as church leaders to work closely with state security agencies so that drug suppliers are jailed to curb drug flow into our communities. It is a cause for concern to us as preachers and parents,’’ said Gutu.
