Johnson Progress

A disturbing new trend has emerged in Hatcliffe, where young people are reportedly inhaling or consuming shoe polish to get high, community leaders have warned.

 

According to community leaders, the trend was revealed during an Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Campaign held at Hatcliffe Community Hall, where residents, churches, schools, police, and government agencies joined forces to denounce the rise of unconventional drug use among youths in high-density suburbs.

 

Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume described the fight against drug abuse in Hatcliffe as critical, urging stronger efforts to eradicate drugs and hold suppliers accountable.

 

“The fight against drugs is a critical issue here in Hatcliffe and across the city,” Mafume said.

 

“We are determined to eradicate drugs, identify the sellers, and rehabilitate victims. It’s imperative that we double down on our efforts and solutions,” he added.

 

Mafume warned that the crisis had escalated beyond local boundaries, calling it a nationwide pandemic requiring urgent, coordinated action.

 

“This is a statewide, nationwide problem that we must tackle head on,” he added.

 

Churches at the event pledged to increase counselling and mentorship programmes while urging parents to engage more with their children to prevent drug use.

 

Some residents vowed to, identifying and exposing local drug dealers.

 

Tanyaradzwa Sande, the Junior Member of Parliament for Hatcliffe Constituency representing the Women’s Quota, encouraged her peers to focus on positive pursuits.

 

“To my fellow ladies, there are better things to do than engaging in drug and substance abuse,” Sande said.

 

“There are jobs and opportunities out there, let’s build our country together.”

 

However, some students said the problem ran deeper than awareness.

 

Ivy, a local pupil, said family struggles and child-headed households were major drivers of substance abuse.

 

“Some young people turn to drugs because they are forced to become breadwinners,” Ivy said.

 

“Awareness campaigns are being ignored because people are struggling to survive,” she added.

 

Zimbabwe Communities Against Drug Abuse representative Elliot Chitiyo said his organisation was shocked to learn that shoe polish had become a substance of abuse.

 

“It came as a surprise that shoe polish is now being used as a drug,” Chitiyo said.

 

“We will investigate further and alert authorities about other potentially harmful substances.”

 

The campaign concluded with a strong call for collective responsibility, with stakeholders urging communities, families, and authorities to unite in combating the deepening drug crisis and protecting the country’s youth.

 

The use of shoe polish as a drug is a new and disturbing trend in Zimbabwe, and it highlights the need for urgent action to address the country’s growing drug problem.