Parents and the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) recently at an NGO campaign expressed concern over the abuse of drugs in Mufakose, as the deadly trend has destroyed many lives .

Parents in Mufakose have united and showed concern about the youth as they join ZNFPC to fight drug abuse. However, in trying to stop drug abuse the organisation has since started sponsoring local artistes to record songs and videos to raise awareness of the deadly drug abuse.

One of the ZNFPC managers Mrs Getrude Katsande said they have embarked on a massive campaign against drug abuse, after realising that an increasing number of youths was now taking ecstasy, crystal meth, popularly known as “Dombo” to mention but a few.

She said they chose edutainment as one of their strategies to tackle drug abuse because many youths enjoy entertainment and the information will reach to the youth as fast as possible. This movement started a year ago in other provinces.

"The youth are doing drug abuse in Mufakose because of peer pressure, unemployment and they not aware of the consequences which one faces after being a drug addict", said Mrs Katsande .

This publication got a chance to interview Patrick Purazi, a drug addict who is now regretting tasting these drugs since he is now a victim.

“I was introduced to crystal meth in 2019 during the covid 19 lockdown, where no one was allowed to go to work while bills were needed. I got stressed and tasted these drugs. Everyone left me including my wife and children because I became violent to everyone for no reason. I regret knowledge these drugs because they have destroyed my life", said Purazi.

Mrs Katsande said ZNFPC sexual reproductive health programming for youths encompasses the 10 to 24 age group, which is the most affected by drug use. ZNFPC is working together with the National AIDS Council (NAC) in training peer educators on drug and alcohol use targeting sex workers and artisanal miners.

“We have decided to use songs to talk about drug abuse and sexual reproductive health issues following the increase in the abuse of ‘crystal meth’ drug in the province among the youths. Most of our youth are experimenting with dangerous drugs,” she said.

Drug abuse is the trigger for the crime rate in Mufakose, unwanted pregnancies and diseases, STIs and HIV which is killing the future of the youth.

“As an organisation we want to make sure that youths in Mufakose understand and know that their lives are at risk or they end up with unwanted pregnancies when they engage in drug abuse.

Parents realised that the future of their children is in their hands and if they don’t stand up, the situation will not change but worsen.

ZNFPC marketing and communication officer Mr Percival Kushure said drug abuse is one of the major challenges in Mufakose.

“Smuggled dangerous drugs into the country have seen an increase in drug use among the youths in Mufakose.

“Guka has devastating consequences which include mental health,” he said.

“Drug use exposes young people to unprotected sex and unwanted pregnancies. As a strategy, we are reaching out to young people through entertainment.

“We have collaborated with Young People’s Network on sexual reproductive health, HIV and AIDS and a young activist, Luckmore Pamhidzai.

The number of people who are facing mental illness, unwanted pregnancies to mention a but few in Mufakose has increased from the past years. This forced parents to stand up and raise the flag.

This publication interviewed Mr Maphosa, a father to a drug addict. It is hard to have a son who takes hard drugs like crystal meth, we tried to take him to rehab but he comes back and continue with drugs. Property is being stolen, no marriage plan but he is old enough to be a father", said Maphosa.

The Zimbabwean government has set up a ministerial task force chaired by the minister of defense Oppa Muchinguri Kashiri to come up with a strategy to fight the scourge of drug and substance abuse. Meanwhile the high unemployment rate and high cost of living that is seeing a rise in school dropouts has exacerbated the situation as more and more youth go out into the streets with nothing to do.