Drug abuse among Kitwe youths worries parents-Zambia Monitor

Some youths in Zambia’s mining city, Kitwe are selling and smoking banned narcotics like marijuana on the open market and during the day, it has been established.

Helpless parents and a civic leader are very worried about the trend of daylight selling and smoking of outlawed substances.

James Nsama, a resident of Ipusukilo Ward, in Kwacha Constituency wanted the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the Zambia Police Service to work hand in hand in reversing the trend.

“Youths even those from the age of 14 regardless of gender are selling and smoking Chamba (Cannabis) in the open, we are helpless, the future for our children is blurred and you can face consequences if you approach them trying to persuade them to stop this habit ,” Nsama said.

He said in an interview that lack of collaboration between DEC officers and the police was not helping matters.

Nsama, who is an adolescence activist, said his findings indicate that the Copperbelt region has only 12 officers who can only manage to stop the trend with the help of the police and others stakeholders.

Ipusukilo Ward councilor Evans Swaba confirmed the existence of the open market and smoking in the area.

“Youths are publicly selling marijuana while smoking, the situation is dire, I have tried to persuade them to stop the vice but to no avail,” Swaba said.

He said youths have continued indulging in illicit activities despite the Government offering various youth empowerment interventions under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

“Whenever, I call for the meeting, youths do not attend and yet people have continued blaming the current situation due to lack of employment, but they can create self employment through CDF empowerment funds,” Swaba said.

He said in an interview in Kitwe on Thursday, December 15, 2022 that he has engaged authorities to put up a police post in the area as the Ipusukilo Police Post is far apart.

“Once we establish a police post, crime levels will reduce. In Just two days two people were hacked by the same boys and smoking banned substances, the trend needs to change,” Swaba said.