H-METRO LAUNCHES WADASA AS WE JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

LAST week we quietly launched our latest campaign: War Against Drugs And Substance Abuse (WADASA).

We believe it is the responsibility of a media outlet like ourselves to take a leading role in the fight against the scourge.

For years, we have been covering the story of how drugs have wreaked havoc in our communities and, in some instances, transformed our kids into zombies.

A nation that lets drugs get a firm grip on its population destroys itself and we believe that the time has come for us to play a leading role to tame this monster.

We have seen how it is destroying, or has destroyed, some of our finest athletes with ex-Chevrons captain, Brendan Taylor, who blamed cocaine for his fall from grace as he was sucked into a dark web of bookies, leading to his suspension from the game.

Right now, one of our finest prospects in cricket, all-rounder Wesley Madhevere, has seen his impressive progress in the game being hampered after being found guilty of indulging in drugs.

His colleague, Brandon Mavuta, also faces the same fate and has been forced to issue an apology to the fans, who looked up to him as a role model, the cricket authorities, who gave him a chance to showcase his talent, and the fans.

At least, these are high-profile individuals and that is why their cases are now before the public domain.

For every Madhevere and Mavuta there are tens of thousands of other young men, who are part of their age group, who are suffering in silence, without the limelight being cast on them, as they battle against drugs and substance abuse.

These are the sad stories that we want to highlight and our mission is to try and ensure that we cast a spotlight on the way they are suffering and put a human face to their sorry plight.

That’s why we are concentrating on telling their stories, in their own words, and hoping that once we do that there will be someone, somewhere, who could come and give them a helping hand.

In yesterday’s edition we featured the story of former drug addict Tinashe Mapirazuva who has been to hell but found a way to fight back.

We hope all the organisations who have a stake in the fight against drugs and substance abuse will also come on board with us in this journey and together we can make a huge difference in this spirited fight against drugs and substance abuse.

We have reached a point of no return and, as H-Metro, we have decided to play a leading role in this fight.