Mangochi Police Station in collaboration with Youthnet and counselling continue fighting against the use of drugs and substance among the youth in the district.
The two institutions on March 23, 2022 conducted a follow up meeting at Chanasa Early Childhood Development(ECD) in the area of Senior Chief Mponda and donors for the project attended.
Speaking to the gathering detective Sergeant Lexon Mzunga under drug section highlighted that, cases of such nature were common but the project has helped to reduce the malpractices.
For instance in 2019 to 2020, 105 cases were recorded compared to 53 cases registered from January 2021 to March 2022.
Mzunga added that Police in the district are conducting awareness, sweeping exercises in the hot-spots, arrests and seizure of drugs as ways of curbing the malpractice.
On his part Staale Stavrum, lnternational programme director of Norwegian Church Aid expressed his satisfaction on the positive results after listening to testimonies from the beneficiaries.
“I’m happy that youth are able to organise themselves and also engaged with the wider community said Starvum.
He also revealed plans to expand the project to other neighbouring districts in the near future. However he alluded that the expansion will require several engagements to be implemented.
Echoing the same, the Executive Director for Yoneco Mc Ben Mkandawire said that the organization is excited that the project is yielding positive results.
He added that drug and substance abuse is a serious problem among the youth due to peer pressure and causes great impact in one’s life hence the need for serious intervention.
To spice up the occasion the youth organised several activities such as drama, poems and testimony speeches.
The 3-year-old project aimed at reducing the use of drugs amongst the youth started in 2020 with funding from Norwegian Church Aid. The project is only implemented in the district’s hot-spots of drugs such as Traditional Authorities Mponda, Jalasi and Nankumba.
*Sub Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi*
*PRO-Mangochi Police Station*
*Cell:0999 706 525*
*Email:mamateps1152@gmail.com*
*Website:www.police.gov.mw*