President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged Zimbabwean youths to take responsibility to fight, resist and reject drug and substance abuse.
In his key note address during the commemoration of the National Youth Day held on 21 February 2022 at Robert Mugabe Square in Harare, President Mnangagwa said government has put in place an Inter-ministerial Committee to deal with drugs and substance abuse and funds have been established in the 2022 National Budget.
“In order to combat this scourge, my Government has put in place the inter-ministerial Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse. Over and above this, a National Drug Abuse Fund has been established in the 2022 National Budget,” Mnangagwa said. This year’s celebrations were running under the theme “Alleviate Substance and Drug Abuse By The Youth.”
He also said that a multi-sectoral approach has been deployed by various stakeholders towards complementing Government efforts to fight against drug and substance abuse by the youth. President Mnangagwa said those who are involved in the selling of drugs will be brought to account. “No stone will be left unturned as we scale up the fight to expose drug cartels that are peddling drugs such as Guka, Bronco, Glue and Musombodhiya among many dangerous drugs such as Mutoriro/ crystal meth and cocaine,” he said.
The Zimbabwean president also urged youths to be responsible as the nation fight against this pandemic and laws to deal with drug and substance abuse are being reviewed. “Ultimately, you as the youth must take responsibility to fight, resist and reject drug and substance abuse.
“The review of the Dangerous Drugs Act to meet and deal with the obtaining realities in tackling drug related issues is being speeded up,” President said. Speaking on the sidelines of the same event, Youth Against Drugs and Substance Zimbabwe (YADSAZ) Secretary General Kelvin Machemedze applauded government for leading the National Youth Day celebrations with a thrust to stop the abuse of drugs in youths.
“We commend our government for leading this year’s National Youth Day celebrations as it is aiming to stop the abuse of drugs in youths. “It is also our mandate as an organisation that fights against drugs and substance abuse to help youths to stop indulging into drugs as it compromises their health, Machemedze said.
- He also said their organisation will do massive awareness campaigns in schools to educate youths on the dangers of abusing drugs. “We have plans to go to many schools around the country and educate young people on this pandemic so that they have a better future,” he said. YADSAZ has so far done drug abuse awareness campaigns in communities such as Ushewekunze, Glennorah, Machipisa as well as Houghton Park.
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