Shingi Mutasa says job creation is answer to youth...

Shingi Mutasa says job creation is answer to youth drug abuse, pregnancies and crime

Zimbabwean tycoon lauds 'well led' Botswana; touts it as Africa's next Financial Hub - NewZimbabwe.com — Shingi Mutasa

Zim Now Writer

Masawara Holdings Group Chief Executive Officer Shingai Mutasa has expressed the importance of advocacy and life-changing circumstances such as employment and opportunities for young people as a way to move away from drugs and early sexual activities.

Mutasa said this during a recent fundraising event hosted by Teen Rescue Mission which was aimed at fighting against drugs, crime and teenage pregnancies amongst young people.

He said strict measures should be applied against drug peddlers and sexual abuse criminals.

"Our children between the age of 16 and 19 are the worst on the continent of Africa for drug abuse. That is tragic. That has to change and can only change through drastic action. Supporting organisations like Teen Rescue is very critical. Let us find ways to create advocacy for change. Our country is naturally and incredibly disciplined.

"I believe our law enforcement agents have the capacity to engage into an incredibly robust level to manage these elements that are spoiling our lovely children by introducing them to drugs and crime. We have the capacity as a country to manage all this, but we have to advocate for it. It is us as a society who must begin to advocate and no one else.

"There must be advocacy so that if a man rapes a child, they get castrated. In countries such as China and Singapore, there is no tolerance for drugs. If you are caught selling drugs you get killed. It's simple...If we don't begin to advocate for that seriousness to deal with sexual abuse against our children, we will continue to see this happening," Mutasa said.

Mutasa's wife Karen, who is the TRM patron, urged corporates to come on board and support life-changing programmes for the vulnerable instead of channelling resources to other avenues where there is not much benefit for the country to progress.

"You should give your money to people who really need it. This drug issue is a pandemic on its own and it can be stopped by prioritising and supporting youth development," she said.

TRM Director Abraham Matuka said TRM's vision was to see the opening of more education and counselling, recreation and entertainment as well as vocational training centres to keep youths off drugs and early sex throughout Zimbabwe.

"We are targeting opening counselling facilities throughout Harare for teens to walk in. As TRM, we are now moving to the Peer-to-Peer programme because young people no longer feel comfortable sharing what is happening in their lives with adults," Matuka said.