By a Correspondent
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda has directed that the joint ministerial committee chaired by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare comes up with a joint statement on the scourge of drugs, especially among Zimbabwean youths.
Legislators say drug abuse has resulted in some youths developing mental illness.
Speaking during Parliament’s question time, legislator Priscilla Moyo said there were a lot of mental cases in communities as a result of drug abuse.
The issue generated a lot of debate in the house leading to calls for a ministerial statement.
“This is a very topical issue and you can see the interest from Hon. Members. Those sitting are equally interested in debating on this because there is a concoction of issues; unemployment, economy and all that,” said legislator Temba Mliswa.
“So, it will be good for a Ministerial Statement or a motion to be moved because it is a serious issue. We would not have done any justice if we do not really go that far. It really affects everyone in society.”
Another legislator Happymore Chidziva said more ministries needed to contribute to the statement.
It is then that Mudenda said, “That is a good observation…There is a joint Ministerial Committee chaired by the Ministry of Public Service, so they will deal with the issue there and come up with a joint statement.”
Earlier speaking on the drug scourge, Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare deputy minister Lovemore Matuke said they were involved in a nationwide anti-drug campaign.
“In the past two weeks, we have been talking to students. We encouraged them to form anti-drug abuse campaign groups and do peer education against drug abuse.
“In the same vein, we had police officers and other stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse. Currently, we have different ministries, including our police force. We work with them because most crimes like violent crimes, homicide, and others are a result of drug abuse,” said Matuke.
“Most young people are showing interest in the discourse and some have shown remorse over drug abuse. The last thing that I want us to address is the source. We need to identify the source, those who supply drugs to these young people. We are investigating such people; those who sell mutoriro and other illicit brews which are affecting the psychological state of many people.”
