Angelah N Mlotshwa
DRUG and Substance abuse in Zimbabwe has brought about gloomiest periods, destroying future lives of intellectuals in the country following the collapse of the health care sector.
Tony Chihota, aka, Chief Capone of A Peace of Ebony’s fame said the young generation are killing their bright future through drug and substance abuse.
Chihota said he is currently working on a visual-musical audio book aimed at raising awareness against the scourge of drug and alcohol addiction.
A Peace of Ebony was a group of young great musicians who comprised of the late Chiwoniso Maraire, Herbert Schwamborn and keyboardist, music producer, Keith Farquharson. The group came together in 1991 with an acclaimed hit album From the Native Tongue.
In 1994 Peace of Ebony won the Best New Group out of Southern Africa Award in the Radio France International Discovery contest with the song Vadzimu.
The song was performed in Shona, English and French played over heavy mbira and mixture of hip-hop rhythm.
The group split when Chiwoniso’s father refused the then 16 year old girl to travel to South Africa for a record deal with Gallo Records.
In South Africa, the deal went sour and Chief Capone found himself hustling in the streets of Johannesburg while Herbert hustled his way until he landed himself a TV presenter role.
Herbert was later to become the person we now know as Metaphysics.
In the meantime Chihota at 17 years, born to a Russian mother and a Zimbabwean father, would perform in clubs and any available gig to feed his stomach.
He became the bad boy as he worked to earn ‘street credibility’ with South African gangsters.
On the streets Chihota entered into the world of crime and was arrested. At his release he tracked back home and closed that chapter on crime.
Unfortunately he was already heavily depended on alcohol and was into drug abuse.
To the youths Chihota has a special message:
“Be strong and focused. Always remember how important you are to your country’s well being. You are the future and with drugs there is no future.”, He said
Chihota a.k.a Chief Capone says students are the future.
“Students are our critical thinkers and intellectuals. They are our hope for the future and it is detrimental to make sure they are reminded of the important role they play in our society. Visiting and engaging with these bright young academics will definitely get the conversations going in a productive and fruitful way.”
As a survivor of substance abuse himself, Chihota wrote a book titled, “The Beginning,” a moving testimonial on the power of faith and hope in the face of addiction and targeting mostly college and university students.
The 46 year old finally won his battle against drug abuse through rehabilitation.
He has been clean for over one and half years now.
He now encourages those affected to do the same because ‘nothing is impossible until you try’.
“I was addicted to various substances at different stages of my life depending on what I could afford at the time. I mostly struggled with cocaine and alcohol but ultimately alcohol is what really got me bad. Alcohol was the gateway to most bad decisions I have made in my life.”, shared Chihota.
When it comes to drug addiction, the most vulnerable age groups range from as early as 9 to 21 years. Abusing drugs such as crystal meth which has been known in the streets as ‘dombo’, meaning stone, Cocaine, Diaper liquid, alcohol and newly founded mazoe orange crush (manufactured in Zimbabwe), brown Pfuko maheu and Sona bath soap.
Many of the addicted youths find themselves troubled mentally. Sadly, the country has only two psychiatry hospitals which are already overcrowded.
ZIM GBC NEWS 2023