FIRST Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa on Wednesday challenged Epworth residents to fight drug abuse and child marriages in order to fight chronic and sexually transmitted diseases for the betterment of the dormitory suburb.
Addressing residents who attended her an anti-drug abuse campaign in Epworth, the First Lady said drug abuse was becoming unbearable causing unwanted pregnancies, school drop-outs and sex workers in the area.
“The drug use is normally popular among men but in Epworth it has been rife among young girls who are drugged to pave facilitate sexual exploitation of young girls especially around the booster area,” the First Lady said.
She further warned some older women who are recruiting under-age girls into commercial sex work urging members of the community to report such unscrupulous behaviour.
“I am aware of some group of women who are being paid to “pimp” young girls as sex workers, but I want to warn those women to stop such activities forthwith. It is time we all become mothers to the children in the community,” she said.
Amai Mnangagwa’s intervention came after community and church leaders complained about drug abuse in the area.
Epworth has become a safe haven for drug dealers and pushers who take advantage of the densely populated area which houses more than 350 000 poor people.
Sixty percent of the population live in poverty, a condition that force young boys and girls to drop out of school to engage in street vending, domestic work and crime.
Some residents have become rich in the area by selling drugs and other dangerous substances at places known as “Kugaza”.
Owners of those shebeens are known publicly and they pay bribes to police officers to continue operating.
Access to sanitary pads is difficult since the price is out their reach.
In her efforts to help mitigate the impact of poverty in the community, Amai Mnangagwa donated reusable sanitary pads for vulnerable girls.
The Chairman for Epworth Local Board Batanai Masunda appealed to the residents to work together to fight the continuous abuse of drugs in the community.
“Let us work together to fight drug abuse and welcomed the first lady for the initiative.”
He further said:
“The failure to regularize Epworth has necessitated the continuous abuse of drugs, commercial sex work, robberies therefore it is now time for residents to embrace development initiative in the area”
