VP Chiwenga speaks against drugs, child abuse

GWERU — Vice President and Health and Child Care Minister Retired General Constatino Chiwenga
has discouraged Zimbabweans from abusing substances and also to put a lid to child abuse.
Addressing Jikinya Dance Festival delegates in Gweru recently, VP Chiwenga discouraged people
from abusing drugs which he said were damaging the new generation of youths as most were now
suffering from mental illness due to drug abuse. As result these youths were now not capable of
playing a positive role in helping to develop the country.
“Lately, the country has witnessed sad developments in cases of drug and substance abuse but I
want to urge youths to desist from drug abuse and be useful citizens who work towards building a
solid economy so that we can achieve the upper middle income economy by 2030,'' he said.
The Vice President was also worried with the rising cases of child abuse in the communities saying
children as future leaders need to be protected from molesters.
''I advise all children who would have come across a situation of abuse be it sexual abuse, physical
abuse or emotional abuse to report these cases to their elders or the police so that the law will take
its course on the perpetrators,'' he said.
VP Chiwenga added that teachers and parents should contribute towards moulding children in the
right direction so that they will not engage in bad activities such as drug abuse or abusing other
children in their society.
''We say a nation is built by its own people but we can only achieve this when we set an example for
the young generation in our various communities where we come from, therefore let us make sure
that we stop abusing children and drugs so that the younger generation can follow suit,'' said the
Health Minister.
VP Chiwenga also praised primary school teachers at the Jikinya Festival for playing a pivotal role in
trying to teach learners a respectful lifestyle, which can be emulated by other children.
He also applauded the National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH) and the National Arts Council
of Zimbabwe (NAC) for their tireless efforts in uplifting children through arts and culture.
''I am happy with what the NAPH and NAC are doing for children around the country, and I would
like other sectors to also copy the idea of trying to teach children about their culture and alert them
of their roots so that the Zimbabwean culture and traditional dances are not forgotten,” VP
Chiwenga said.