Young man lives to tell tale of mental crisis

THERE was a time when 19-year-old Godknows Zindondi could, in his sozzled stupor, run away from his own shadow. He looked older than his age and had dropped out of school, all that because of drugs.

Now his life, that seemingly teetered on the brink, has changed thanks to the intervention of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare which has helped him go back to school.

Giving a testimony during the launch of an inter-ministerial campaign against drugs and substance abuse in Shamva on Wednesday, Godknows recounted how his family was forced to chain him to a tree, to protect him from his hallucinations.

“I refused to go to school while in Form Three due to drugs. I am begging youths to listen to your parents before you destroy your future,” he said.

It was a harrowing tale of lamentations from a young man who had lost everything because of drugs that the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Professor Paul Mavima, who is the chairperson of the inter-ministerial taskforce on drugs and substance abuse, offered to send him back to school.

“Godknows is still young and can go back to school. For educational purposes, I have adopted him and I will send him to school,” he said.

Minister Mavima also directed the Social Development Department to help another survivor of drug abuse, Clayton Canaan, popularly known as Uncle Mbizi, to start a poultry project.

Uncle Mbizi’s wife ran away with their children due to his abuse of drugs and alcohol and he appealed for help in starting a poultry project to win back his family.

Minister Mavima said: “As the Government, we need to reach out to youngsters who have acknowledged their problems and are crying out for help.

“I am grateful to the inmate at Bindura Prison, Henry Sekai, who gave his testimony and demonstrated that there is always a second chance.

“With adequate intervention and collaboration among different Government departments, these people can be helped to stand on their two feet again to look after themselves, and their families and contribute to the development of this country.”

Minister Mavima said the purpose of the outreach was to sensitise communities on the negative effects of drug and substance abuse.

“The aim is to reduce the supply and demand of dangerous and illicit drugs and substances among children”.

Minister Mavima said in communities, people know the suppliers of drugs but they fail to report them due to fear.

“We are urging people not to allow drug dealers to do as they please and destroy the future of this country. Report these people to the police,” he said.

“When the police fail to do their duty, find a way to report to other people at the top so that our country can develop.”

Minister of Sport, Art and Recreation Kirsty Coventry said Zimbabwe is a youthful nation with 70 percent of its pollution below the age of 35 and there is a need to protect the young.

She said the country has huge opportunities to benefit from the youthful age group which should be pre-occupied with nation-building but sadly has succumbed to drug abuse.

“We believe that 57 percent of our youths are grappling with drug abuse and they are unable to participate in any productive work in families, communities, and nation,” she said.

“This is negatively impacting the national transformation targets. President Mnangagwa pronounced Vision 2030 to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-class economy banking on patriotic youths. The over-indulgence in drugs and substance abuse threatens this wonderful vision. Drugs benefit no one including those who peddle them.”