Destitutes grow into families on the streets

MP Anna Rungani has said many street kids which are found in Zimbabwe's major towns have turned into families with children a development which continues to crowd the streets with people without proper residences.

"I feel this is a very pertinent issue. We have observed street kids who are indulging in this substance. We should start with our children in our homes. If you ask these children where they are coming from, they will tell you they are coming from Epworth. They run away from school and start begging for money in the streets and the money they get is for buying these drugs," he said.

"In 2005, I saw some people who were in the middle of the street between First Street and Nelson Mandela, during that time they were young but they are now family people with children who were born in that place."

"I appeal to the police to collect these people from the streets and take them to some place. When you ask some of these people where they are coming from, most of them say they come from Epworth, especially on streets like First Street and Nelson Mandela."

Rungani said these places have no toilets and therefore they use the sanitary lanes and these people smell.

"If you ask them why they are there, they say they come to fend for themselves; they want to get some money for their school fees. We have children who are on the streets, how do you fend for them?," she said. "They are on the streets, we see them at the same place and there are games which they play. They will be playing cards and I remember some time these guys were playing these card games at the back of a truck which was parked. I am asking the law enforcement agents what their role is in curbing this menace because they are heading for disaster."

"I also want to talk about the shuttle taxis commonly known as 'mushikashika'. The touts will be hanging precariously behind these cars, we seriously need to do something and rehabilitate these people," she added.

Rungani said she is hard-working and do a lot of farming to the point that she will never be a beggar.

"If you are living comfortably, you will not need to run away from home to come and beg on the streets. These street kids and beggars are lazy and do not want to fend for themselves hence they seek solace from bronco and mbanje," she said.

"I have seen people in Mbare selling tablets and other medication. They even have the audacity of boarding buses and start selling those tablets. I am asking the law enforcement agents why they are not controlling this menace. Tablets should only be distributed by authorized dispensers like pharmacies, hospitals and clinics."

"I appeal to the police to arrest these perpetrators because once they start selling these drugs they then proceed to sell bronco. This is why I stood to make my contribution that we control our offspring for a brighter future," she added.