Community members must be whistle-blowers in order...

Community members must be whistle-blowers in order to name, shame drug suppliers

Zim Now Writer

The Gwanda District drug and substance abuse taskforce has urged community members to act as whistle-blowers in order to ensure that suppliers of drugs and other harmful substances are named and shamed.

In a recent meeting, the taskforce members noted it was disturbing that drug users were being identified but suppliers remain unknown.

Constable Aleck Mpofu from the Gwanda Rural Victim Friendly Unit, who is a member of the taskforce, said the challenge has to be addressed, adding that some drug sources were known to community members but they were not reporting to the police.

“As police, we usually arrest the users of drugs while the suppliers remain untouched. In order to deal with this problem, we have to apprehend members of the supply chain. We need the input of various stakeholders in order for this to be possible. We need members of the community to act as whistle-blowers. If they fear for their safety, then they can always give us the information anonymously,” he said.

“We have identified Gwanda Town as the major hotspot of drugs. Let’s name and shame the culprits. As a committee we need to continuously engage community members on the crucial role they have to play in the fight against drug and substance abuse.”

Another member of the taskforce, who is Gwanda District Development Co-ordinator, Thulani Moyo said it is the duty of all community members to report drug peddlers, most of whom are targeting schools to mislead learners.

Moyo said parents also have to be on the lookout as some children were being used by drug peddlers to distribute drugs.

“These drug peddling activities are taking place right under our nose but sometimes we choose to turn a blind eye. As various stakeholders we have to keep a watchful eye wherever we are and report any anomalies; be it in schools, communities, workplaces or whatever institution. Our youths and even adults are perishing because of drug abuse,” he said.