Africa-Press – Botswana. Prevalent use of illegal drugs and abuse of alcohol across the country, which has now reached a tipping point, poses a serious threat to Botswana’s future prospects.
Minister of Defence and Security said unless something was done swiftly by individual Batswana to put a stop to the raging inferno of drugs and substance abuse, ‘the future looks bleak’.
Mr Kagiso Mmusi said this during the anti-drug campaign that was held at the Francistown City Council Stadium on Friday under the theme, Drugs; My Enemy, Your Enemy, United We Can Win.
It is against this backdrop that Mr Mmusi pleaded with all and sundry to change their mindset and join forces with government to put up a fight against drug and alcohol abuse.
“The Government has played its part by bringing all the necessary interventions. Now I am here as a leader to kindly ask you to do away with drugs that have a ripple effect on the socio-economy of our nation,” he pleaded in his keynote address.
He informed the crowd, which consisted of members of law enforcement agencies, civil servants, students and parents that the widespread use of drugs and alcohol abuse that had spiraled out of control was a thorn in the flesh of the leadership.
It was to this end, he stated, that the government of Botswana had over and above existing laws and institutions established the Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) with the view to further intensify war against habit-forming drugs.
Mounting campaigns to fight the drug phenomenon, he said was a way to reach out to the rest of the nation, and plead with Batswana to take it upon themselves to kick drugs out of the community once and for all.
“Let us all say no to drugs. They are of no use to us. I stand here to plead with you to shun drugs, especially the youth who ought to be taking advantage of huge investment government had made in the education sector,” he said.
Continued abuse of drugs according to Minister Mmusi, who is also a Member of Parliament for Gabane/Mmankgodi, could easily wipe out the entire population.
City mayor, Mr Godisang Radisigo welcomed the idea of having the campaign in Francistown, stating that the city’s geographical position as the gateway to the rest of Africa made it liable to the proliferation of all sorts of drugs.
Drugs, he said, affected people from all walks of life and as such the theme was appropriate as it challenged everyone to wage war against the phenomenon.
The ravaging effects of drugs are disheartening and have as a result rendered many young people mentally invalid, said Mr Radisigo.
“These drugs have turned our children into monsters and they act out of character,” he said commending efforts by DEA in its spirited fight against drugs and alcohol abuse.
He encouraged the youth to shun drugs and focus their attention on securing a better future by taking advantage of government programmes geared towards improving their livelihoods.
Kgosi Pepukai Makambe of Monarch Customary Court in Francistown said it was imperative for the nation to acknowledge the fact that drugs had adversely hit the nation and come up with a winning strategy against them.
He said in particular school-going children were hard hit by the infiltration of drugs and alcohol abuse.
Kgosi Makambe said also that drug abuse was the reason behind soaring incidents of gender-based violence.
Assistant commissioner Bonosi Molapisi of the Botswana Police Service reported that 485 drug-related offences had been recorded since 2019 within the Francistown policing area.
“Out of the 485 cases, 399 involved people aged below 35 while 113 offenders above the age of 35 were nabbed for committing the same offence,” he said.
Those found on the wrong side of the law dealt with an assortment of drugs such as Dagga, Methcath commonly known as CAT and Cocaine.
Assistant commissioner Molapisi therefore pledged the police commitment in the fight against drugs and called on the community to reciprocate efforts by law enforcement officers.
“In case you’re not happy with action or inaction on our part, you are at liberty to make an appeal to senior officers at our offices so that appropriate action can be taken against unscrupulous officers,” he said.
Former drug addict, Mr Loiso Mavuma warned young people, especially pupils about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
“I stand here as a testimony of what drugs can do to you. I have lost almost half of my life to drugs. Drugs are not cool. Do not be deceived,” he said.
Kgosi Gunny Moses of Phase Customary Court implored all to unite in the fight against drugs if Vision 2036 pledge to reach a high-income status was to be attained.
Objectives of the event according to the coordinator of DEA, Ms Pearl Ramokoka were among others, to raise public awareness about the dangers of drugs, forge partnerships and come up with interventions to fight the abuse of drugs.
Pupils were also given a platform to talk to fellow youths about the dangers of engaging in drugs and substance abuse.
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