By Rutendo Ngara
WITH rising levels of unemployment, poverty and the escalating costs of living pushing urban dwellers to the edge, many people – especially adolescents and youth – have turned to drugs and substance abuse.
Commonly used substances in Zimbabwe include broncleer, mangemba, cane spirit, marijuana, codeine, and methamphetamine (crystal meth).
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 275 million people or 5.5 percent of the global population aged 15-64 used drugs at least once and in Zimbabwe at least 57 percent of youth abuse drugs.
The Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ), the publishers of the Daily News and the Daily News On Sunday, last Thursday held a drug and substance abuse conference in Harare which drew health experts, government officials, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and civil societies to share insights on fighting the vice.
In an interview on the sidelines of the conference, World Life Changers executive director Desmond Chikamhi said local production of drugs was now also rampant with musombodia, kambwa amongst other little-known highly intoxicating drinks made from ethanol and emblem powder being illegally manufactured and distributed throughout the country.
“Some of these substances commonly featured among homeless children to relieve stressful situations, boost courage for engaging in criminal activities, and as sedating substances to help them sleep.
“However, very high unemployment rates in Zimbabwe, coupled with poverty and despair, have resulted in increasing numbers of youthful citizens also turning to using drugs as a way of entertainment.
“The fight against drugs is too huge to be dumped on the government alone. The fight against drugs has to start on a family level and is supported by schools, community, church, as well as the civic society,” he said.
Addressing participants at the conference, former Solusi University Vice Chancellor Norman Maphosa pleaded with parents to spend more time with their families to be able to detect drug abuse before it’s too late.
“I was so engrossed in running the affairs of the university and didn’t realise that my son Tonderai Maphosa had turned to drugs. Many of you may not be as lucky as I was to be able to see your children repent and quit drugs like Tonderai,” Maphosa told the conference.
“Tonderai riotously pursued drugs for 15 years. We thought we had lost him. He tormented me and the family and caused immeasurable pain and loss. He stole thousands of dollars, and sold the family property and Solusi University computers to buy drugs.”
Apart from bringing shame to the family, the former Solusi University Vice Chancellor said his son strained family relations. “I hated what the boy was doing, but still loved him. But his behaviour almost unsettled our family balance. I had to take him out of my will. We disagreed with my wife on how to treat him,” Maphosa added.
Addressing participants beside his father, Tonderai Maphosa admitted to ‘tormenting’ his father as well as seeking advice from faith healers and sangomas to silence his father who was pressing charges against him.
“At some point, I remember stealing Solusi University computers and selling them. All I wanted was to satisfy my craving for drugs. “I remember setting up a screen recorder on my father’s phone to get his bank passwords. After that, I stole money from his bank and mobile money accounts. I used the cash to buy drugs and pamper my girlfriends,” he said.
When my father found out, he called my girlfriend’s father and I was embarrassed. “I rushed to consult madzibaba venguwo tsvuku, so that I could silence my father from asking me anything that had to do with my life. It was so horrible because I was also violent,” he added.
Tonderai said things turned nasty after consulting the faith healer. “I lost my mind. I was roaming around the streets in Highfields. My siblings took me to Parinyatwa to start my rehabilitation. That’s how I started my recovery journey.
“Quitting drugs is not easy. It’s a fight and you need support from the very people you have wronged. I plead with all parents listening today, drugs are the new pandemic. Do not give up. Help your kids to fight this vice. Together we can win the fight. “As for the youth, take a leaf from me. I have done drugs. I was an addict. I fought and won the war. Desist from drugs, nothing good comes from that.”
Just like Tonderai, Sacrifice Chirisa, Cimas managing director and medical doctor, was also once a drug addict. Chirisa said there are a number of issues that society is turning a blind eye on, especially parenting.
“At 29, I lost my job. Actually, I was fi red because of drug abuse. I was broke to the point of returning to my parent’s house. I was hope[1]less and everyone in my family was calling me rombe rakadzidza. I was rehabilitated and I am here pursuing my goals.” Upon joining Cimas, Chirisa introduced a mental health cover to cater for people who are suffering from different mental health issues. Speaking at the drugs conference, WHO Zimbabwe mental health focal person Debra Machando said substance abuse has different causes.
“Drug and substance abuse have different causes, we have precipitating factors that could be trauma, unemployment. It might be peer pressure or emotional trauma. “Due to drug a
buse, addicts develop physiological disorders where they start hearing voices, they are distressed, etc. “Knowing that information we are careful to make sure that we need to package information accurately and one reference case cannot suit all, it cannot be used as a benchmark for everything. It’s important as a nation to make sure that we are packaging our messages well in a way that is not harmful,” Machando added.
In an interview, Mwanasikana Wanhasi executive director Opportunity Makanga expressed concern about the upward trend in drug abuse among adolescent girls. “A few years ago, drugs and substance abuse were a scourge associated with males.
The indiscriminate use of dangerous substances and drugs by young girls and women is concerning. “Apart from the health hazards, most girls and women now turn to prostitution to finance those dangerous habits. This is exposing young girls to sexually transmitted diseases. We urge young girls to desist from such.”