Thandolwethu Moyo
In an concerted effort to combat the scourge of drug and substance abuse, menacing the populace of the country, the Member of Parliament for Bulawayo South yesterday launched a cycling drug and substance abuse awareness campaign.
The bold and vigorous march against drug misuse kick-started in Bulawayo and will stretch to Chitungwidza Town, 500 Kilometers away from the City of Kings and Queens.
Spearheaded by Hon. Raj Modi the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, the cycling team set off for their destination Monday morning, with the minister along other cyclists.
Prior to the march, they were key note speakers from various fields relevant to the growing menace of addiction to drugs who shared their experiences and expertise on the drug menace. Some of these stakeholders included the Zimbabwe Republic Police Drugs and Narcotics Department, Ingutsheni Psychiatric Hospital and the Ministry of Youth.
Detective Mbuya Mudzimu from the Drugs and Narcotics Department (ZRP) reiterated that drug misuse is not only a threat to one’s health, but also a punishable offense in the constitution of Zimbabwe.
“Those people who sell you drugs never tell you the dangers that will befall you if you take those drugs”, she warned.
“When it comes to our school children, you are going to eventually become a dropout as you are vulnerable to suffer from memory loss”, she emphasized.
Dr. Mawere, the Chief Medical Officer of Ingutsheni Hospital expressed concern over the alarming rate at which young people abusing drugs are over flooding the institution.
P. Nyoni the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth urged young people to desist from indulging in self destructive activities such as drug abuse.
On the sidelines of the ongoing drug awareness campaign, Dr. Mawere raised concern over the shortage of resources at the Ingutsheni Hospital. He said,
“We are struggling to make ends meet, mainly because of overcrowding. We are catering for more people now”.
He however offered gratitude to the government and other well-wishers for their efforts to keep the hospital functioning. Detective Mbuya Mudzimu encouraged youths to stay out of trouble with law enforcement by divorcing themselves from any drug related activity.
“Stop to start, yekela ukuqala, rekedza kutanga madrugs” , she exclaimed.
A march around the heart of the second capital marked the end of the launch, as the cyclists began their 500km journey.
Zim GBC News©2024