PRISCA MANYIWA-MASUKU
MIRROR REPORTER

KWEKWE – Junior Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwekwe District Tanaka Ruzive has urged policy makers and organisations holding youth anti-drug campaign to consult and engage youth before holding their campaigns.
Ruzive said most organisations are missing issues affecting youth and hence their campaigns are redundant when he spoke to The Mirror on the sidelines of Heroes Day commemorations at Mbizo Stadium, Kwekwe on Monday.
“Drug and substance abuse have become a cause for concern among children in schools. Most of the anti-drug abuse campaigns are done by adults telling us children to stop abusing drugs. These campaigns have not been bearing fruits because firstly it’s just those (adults) merely telling us to stop using drugs but they are not addressing the root cause.
“They should consult us first and hear from us what the problem is so that they address the problem from its root. Children are facing a lot of challenges from child headed families, lack of parental guidance because parents are always out there hustling and they do not have time for us. Child abuse among other issues,” said Ruzive.
His sentiments come barely a week after a Kwekwe girl only identified as Charmaine from Mbizo 6 was found heavily intoxicated during an anti-drug abuse campaign held at Mbizo Stadium.
Ruzive added that there is also a need to rope in the boy child in child marriages and teenage pregnancy programs.
He said most programs are targeting the girl child and this creates gender disparity which will cause problems in the near future.