THE ZIMBABWE
PEACE PROJECT
Young people in Mutoko, idle for a long time
due
to
the
Covid-19
restrictions,
unemployment and general poverty, have
resorted to substance abuse, while a
considerable number of young girls have
gotten into child marriages and boys have
joined the illegal gold rush. This came out at
a community dialogue hosted by ZPP at
Chindenga School in September
Substance abuse
The local young people at the dialogue highlighted
with concern the involvement of their counterparts in
drug and alcohol abuse. This is mainly because the
young people are idle; most of them are not
employed and also for the school going age, the
schools are closed because of the COVID 19
pandemic. This problem has been exacerbated by an
increase in shebeens established by local villagers
where most of the boys spend their time. This
challenge has contributed to moral decadence among
youths who no longer respect their parents and the
elderly; most of them are leaving home to embark on
illegal gold panning to get more money for drugs.
Child marriages
The Mutoko community is lamenting the prevalence of
child marriages, a challenge which has stayed for a
long time in the area. Community members revealed
that young girls are being taken as brides and some
parents consent to such marriages. The community
has called for the arrest of perpetrators of child
marriages including the groom and the parents who
would have consented to the marriage.
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