As drug and substance abuse has become a worrying scourge among the youth in Botswana to the extent that even President Mokgweetsi Masisi has taken stern measures to try and control this menace, the youth have been challenged to take charge, come up with possible solutions and ways of stemming the rising tide of substance abuse amongst themselves.
The Minister of Defence and Security, Kagiso Mmusi, made the plea while officiating at the national anti-drug publicity campaign that was held in Mahalapye on Wednesday. He said young people often get involved in drug and substance abuse due to peer pressure, trying to fit in with society and peer groups while some get involved as a means of escaping the harsh economic environment or to avoid problems they may be facing. He revealed that statistics generated by Botswana Police Service (BPS) indicates that 1, 232 cases of drugs were recorded in the year 2023 and 1, 784 people of which 116 amongst them were those aged 10 to 19 years. “The results stated above are quite disturbing as far as they relate to the youth because the youth form a vital percentage of our population. Additionally, their roles and activities are fundamental in translating the goals of any community, and for the purpose of our gathering, Mahalapye development goals are achievable through her youth,” he said. He further stated that on the global front, the 2023 World Drug Report released in June this year, indicates that the number of people who used drugs in the world in the year 2021 stood at 296 million people, a whooping increase of 23% over the last 10 years. Mmusi added that the same report also indicates that 27% of people under the age of 25 were in treatment for drug use in Africa.
He further pleaded with parents to be observant in order to spot character and behavioural changes in their children. He encouraged and reassured the community of Mahalapye that everyone’s efforts together are sufficient to mount a spirited fight against the menace poised by illicit drugs and substances abuse. “We all agree that everyday examples arise inside families where no less than one individual is dependent on drugs. These examples incorporate significant degrees of analysis or negativism inside families being parental irregularity, or on account of guardians adapting to a drug dependent youngster, deluded outrage between drug-dependent and non-dependent relatives leading to gender-based violence,” he said. Mmusi further stated that this scenario has a rippling effect on the country’s service delivery systems being health care, education, public safety, criminal justice, and the reversal of economic gains including the erosion of cultural norms. Meanwhile, Mmusi pleaded with the community to question themselves on what can be done right to stem the social and economic ills brought by the of illicit drugs and substances abuse.
He revealed that the statistics generated by Botswana Police Service based on the number of arrests of suspects further uncovers the magnitude of the problem of drugs that is ravaging the nation. “It is on the strength of the above observations that efforts are being made to minimise any harm to our people, especially the youth. In this regard I want to acknowledge the efforts and commitment of our First Lady, Neo Masisi, who together with other several stakeholders have embarked on a mission to reverse the social ills affecting our society, particularly GBV, HIV/AIDS infections and drug abuse. Her continued rally and campaigns, abhorring the abuse of children in whatever form, under the famous tagline, “E seng mo ngwaneng” is an enormous contribution to our nation,” Mmusi said. Equally, he stated that efforts and interventions from other stakeholders including Dikgosi, church leaders, health care workers, public servants and the general community, is commendable in guiding the youth from abstaining in behaviours that led to harm. Moreover, Mmusi pointed that the government is also highly committed in protecting its people from the ravaging drug scourge.
He disclosed that by committing to arm itself against the raging war of illicit drug trafficking and use, Botswana continues to put in place in place robust legislative and policy measures in an effort to combat this rage. The minister further stated that Botswana enacted the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in 2018, which also established the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) under defence ministry, which is mandated to combat and eliminate the illicit production and supply of, demand for and traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances that pose a serious threat to the health and welfare of human beings and adversely affect the economic, cultural and political foundations of society.
“This is the reason why I stand before you, to ask you to join hands in embracing prevention and enforcement programmes driven by the DEA to safe our youthful society. If we do not act today, we will certainly lose our future leaders to the vices of drugs and substance abuse, resulting in the burden to the health system and increased crime. I have a personal message that I want to share with our youth. Bongwanaka, there's a big, wonderful world out there for you. It belongs to you. It's exciting and stimulating and rewarding. Don't cheat yourselves out of this promise. Our country needs you, but it needs you to be clear-eyed and clear-minded,” he said. Mmusi further appreciated the commitment by President Masisi towards the eradication of drugs pleading with citizens to come to the party as the theme underscores, 'Drugs, my enemy, your enemy – united we can win'. “As we leave this space today, let our shared commitment echo in our hearts and guide our actions. Our journey towards a drug-free society begins now, and with each step forward, we redefine the narrative of the generation to come,” Mmusi said.
He further pleaded with parents to be observant in order to spot character and behavioural changes in their children. He encouraged and reassured the community of Mahalapye that everyone’s efforts together are sufficient to mount a spirited fight against the menace poised by illicit drugs and substances abuse. “We all agree that everyday examples arise inside families where no less than one individual is dependent on drugs. These examples incorporate significant degrees of analysis or negativism inside families being parental irregularity, or on account of guardians adapting to a drug dependent youngster, deluded outrage between drug-dependent and non-dependent relatives leading to gender-based violence,” he said. Mmusi further stated that this scenario has a rippling effect on the country’s service delivery systems being health care, education, public safety, criminal justice, and the reversal of economic gains including the erosion of cultural norms. Meanwhile, Mmusi pleaded with the community to question themselves on what can be done right to stem the social and economic ills brought by the of illicit drugs and substances abuse.
He revealed that the statistics generated by Botswana Police Service based on the number of arrests of suspects further uncovers the magnitude of the problem of drugs that is ravaging the nation. “It is on the strength of the above observations that efforts are being made to minimise any harm to our people, especially the youth. In this regard I want to acknowledge the efforts and commitment of our First Lady, Neo Masisi, who together with other several stakeholders have embarked on a mission to reverse the social ills affecting our society, particularly GBV, HIV/AIDS infections and drug abuse. Her continued rally and campaigns, abhorring the abuse of children in whatever form, under the famous tagline, “E seng mo ngwaneng” is an enormous contribution to our nation,” Mmusi said. Equally, he stated that efforts and interventions from other stakeholders including Dikgosi, church leaders, health care workers, public servants and the general community, is commendable in guiding the youth from abstaining in behaviours that led to harm. Moreover, Mmusi pointed that the government is also highly committed in protecting its people from the ravaging drug scourge.
He disclosed that by committing to arm itself against the raging war of illicit drug trafficking and use, Botswana continues to put in place in place robust legislative and policy measures in an effort to combat this rage. The minister further stated that Botswana enacted the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in 2018, which also established the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) under defence ministry, which is mandated to combat and eliminate the illicit production and supply of, demand for and traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances that pose a serious threat to the health and welfare of human beings and adversely affect the economic, cultural and political foundations of society.
“This is the reason why I stand before you, to ask you to join hands in embracing prevention and enforcement programmes driven by the DEA to safe our youthful society. If we do not act today, we will certainly lose our future leaders to the vices of drugs and substance abuse, resulting in the burden to the health system and increased crime. I have a personal message that I want to share with our youth. Bongwanaka, there's a big, wonderful world out there for you. It belongs to you. It's exciting and stimulating and rewarding. Don't cheat yourselves out of this promise. Our country needs you, but it needs you to be clear-eyed and clear-minded,” he said. Mmusi further appreciated the commitment by President Masisi towards the eradication of drugs pleading with citizens to come to the party as the theme underscores, 'Drugs, my enemy, your enemy – united we can win'. “As we leave this space today, let our shared commitment echo in our hearts and guide our actions. Our journey towards a drug-free society begins now, and with each step forward, we redefine the narrative of the generation to come,” Mmusi said.
