Pupils march against 'Vuzoom' parties

BULAWAYO pupils and church members marched in the city yesterday to discourage young people from holding vuzu parties as they expose them to sexually transmitted diseases and promote drug abuse.

Police, representatives of churches, schools and officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education took part in the anti-vuzu campaign.

The coordinator of the campaign, Reverend Useni Sibanda said the parties are a broad societal problem that needs every citizen to be involved in to put an end to them.

Rev Sibanda said they were also against child marriages.

He said they engaged the police in the campaign because it is they who maintain law and order in the country.

"We're realising that these parties are a societal problem that needs every citizen to be involved and police are part of the campaign as they are law enforcers. We believe we've to deal with the parents who are in the diaspora and substitute the way of engaging the children," said Rev Sibanda.

"We want to train pupils who'll go around different schools when they open and raise awareness against the 'Vuzoom' parties and child marriages. We also want to do a social media awareness campaign as it's the most effective in influencing such behaviour."

During the march, acting police provincial spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube advised schoolchildren not to mingle with older people as they may take advantage of them.

"The same people have an aim to distribute drugs and make money. We say no to such parties. Child marriages aren't only criminal but also satanic," said Ass Insp Ncube.