Africa-Press – Botswana. There is a need for targeted and rigorous measures to save the youth who continue to fall prey to drugs.
This was said by Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) coordinator, Ms Pearl Ramokoka, in a presentation to a full meeting of the Gaborone City Council (GCC) recently.
“There is need for mind-set change. The solution to drugs that have since taken over the country is within us so it is important that we have measures in place to fight drug use and abuse in order to save our young people who are the future of Botswana,” she said.
Ms Ramokoka said there had been an increasing invasion of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substance into various social groups, particularly engagement of children in the consumer, market, production, distribution and trade in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances posing an incalculable danger and threat.
“It is therefore upon each and everyone and every Motswana to fight against drugs,” she added. “We encourage parents to prioritise guarding their children.”
She also said drug trafficking was a criminal intentional activity that was usually linked to other serious organised crimes that undermined legitimate economies and threatened peace, security and stability of states.
However, she said, although there had not been adequate information on the prevalence of drug trafficking and abuse in Botswana, separate studies involving student population in 2016/2017 indicated an increase from 8.2 per cent to 26.6 per cent, a threefold increase in drug use within a period of one year.
On one hand, she said, the 2023 World Drug Report indicated that around 284 million people aged 16 up to 64 years used drugs in 2020, reflecting a 26 per cent increase over the previous decade. She said drug use among young people aged between 15 and 24 years increased by 40 per cent between 2010 and 2020, adding that 500 000 people died annually due to drug use related deaths including deaths due to drug use disorders, infectious diseases, traffic accidents and suicides.
“In Botswana drugs are mostly used by the youthful population. 42 per cent of the population is below the age of 19 while 33 per cent is between 20 and 39 years of age and the main reason is because of unemployment among the youth. With the estimation of 37 per cent of unemployed youth, they are bound to pass time through drugs,” she said.
Responding to the presentation, Itumeleng Ward councillor, Ms Horatius Motamma expressed concern that drugs had become fashionable in Botswana and thus called on DEA to start working.
“Everyone knows which homestead to go to for drugs and people are not arrested,” Cllr Motamma said.
Other councillors called for reinforcement at the borders to curb drugs being trafficked into Botswana as well as the use of right technology that would be able to detect drugs. Some highlighted the need to find those who were dealing in drugs arguing that until such suppliers were apprehended then drugs and their use would not end.
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