Home News Zanu-Pf drugging youths to perpetrate violence, oppositions bemoan

Zanu-Pf drugging youths to perpetrate violence, oppositions bemoan

by Kudakwashe Vhenge

By Takudzwa Changadeya

With youths making up 56% of Zimbabwe’s total population, opposition political parties have expressed concern over the continued drug abuse which they claim is influenced by some government officials to use youths as perpetrators of political violence.

They are also condemning law enforcement agencies for acting as brokers in creating drug lords and deliberately turning a blind eye to the scourge.

Speaking to BustStop TV, Patriotic Zimbabweans Party’s (PZP) spokesperson Shelton Mupambwa said:

“The ruling party has also been known for using drunken youths to effect its violent campaigns. The net effect of the drug abuse has been the depoliticisation of the youth as they are now uprooted from everyday activities.”

He added that all this is feeding out of the trough of corruption which has been created by the political woe in the country.

“We believe that the youth are vulnerable to anything and they are taking advantage of that. They are frustrated by the socio-economic environment that is a product of the political environment in this country,” he said.

Speaking to Bustop TV, People’s Unity Party (PUP) President Hebert Chamuka also lashed at some alleged government officials whom he accused of terrorizing, using drunken youths, and opposition supporters.

“Some government officials give youths drugs when sending them out to perpetrate violence during political campaigns and we are against that.”

Zimbabwe is grappling with a sudden increase in drug abuse among its young people and it has become a social ill that is bedeviling the country.

These drugs include  Crystal Meth (Mutoriro, Guka or Dombo) to medications such as Codeine, Diazepam (Maragada or Mangemba), Ketamine and Pethidine, morphine and Fentanyl.

According to Zimbabwean law, use, possession and dealing in drugs  is regulated by the Criminal Law (codification and reform act) Chapter 9.23 as read with the Dangerous drugs Act chapter 15.02.

It criminalises possession and dealing in specified dangerous drugs, the offence carries a maximum of five years.

This means the courts can impose any sentence not exceeding five years which include a fine, community service or imprisonment.

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