All youths must join hands to fight drug, substance abuse

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa last year addressed a congregation of 40 000 youths from across the country at Lupane State University. Chief Director in the Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation ministry, Bensen Dube said the support they received from the Lupane community was amazing.

The day ran under the theme Drug and Substance Abuse, A Threat to Vision 2030: Every Community’s Responsibility and saw community leaders and prominent people talking about the dangers of drug and substance abuse.

“The Lupane community was so ecstatic about the coming of the President as their guest of honour and they came in numbers to assist in the preparations. Through an indaba, community leaders and prominent people talked about the dangers of drugs and substance abuse and what drugs have done to our youths. Some testified from their experiences and encounters with this problem,” Dube said.

Expanding on the theme, Dube said the theme for the commemorations was a continuation of what was pronounced by the government in 2022 about the fight against drugs and substance abuse which is now prevalent among young people.

“This scourge is threatening the future generation and we need all hands on deck to try and stop drug and substance abuse among our youths,” he said.

Dube noted that it was sad that school-going children were among those being affected by the drug and substance abuse scourge, while urging schools to organise activities around the national theme in the week February 21 to 26.

The commemorations were also observed in other provinces with Ministers of State officiating.

Music, sports and drama were part of the entertainment in an effort to recognise and celebrate the contributions made by the youths throughout the history of the country.

The annual celebrations seek to teach young people to recognise and emulate good leadership values.

This year’s commemorations are expected to see youths being honoured for outstanding achievements in various sectors of the economy such as entrepreneurship and financial services, mining, energy and infrastructure, environment and tourism, agriculture, health and social welfare, sport, arts, information communication technology, innovation and advocacy.

Various exhibitions will also be mounted at this year’s venue, Mushagashe Vocational Training Centre, in Masvingo.

President Mnangagwa is expected to grace the event.

The National Youth Day was born out of the 21st February Movement meant to celebrate the birthday of the late former President Robert Mugabe.