shloboe boe
Lovemore Dube, lovemore.dube@chronicle.co.zw
FORMER teacher and referee, Mbusi Dube, who is now a social worker in the United Kingdom, firmly believes that citizens and sport can work together to combat the serious issue of drug and substance abuse.
Through his Eyethu Group, Dube organised and successfully executed a football tournament and awareness programme.
Life skill trainers were present to conduct workshops, and the football tournament served as the main activity for the event.
The primary objective was to bring attention to how drug and substance abuse should not be tolerated in our society and that gender-based violence must be eradicated for us to progress as a civilised society.
The event was aptly named Bulawayo Against Njengu and Gender-Based Violence Organisation (Bango).
Numerous teams participated in the tournament, and each team was presented with football uniforms on the event day. Dube shared that statistics reflected an alarming increase in the number of individuals affected by drug abuse and gender-based violence.
These issues have worsened mental health issues that society must address.
“Citizens have a big role in eradicating gender-based violence and also eradicating drug and substance abuse. These two problems are the main advancers of mental health issues that now affect society.
“Statistics are out there for all to see the damage and contribution to mental health problems within our society. As Eyethu, we are saying not only to Bulawayo but Zimbabwe as a whole that we should see more participation in sport and wellness programmes to promote peace and healthy lifestyles,” said Dube.
Dube, who taught for close to 15 years at Plumtree High School, has lived in the UK for 20 years and says the drug and substance abuse scourge is present even in the First World and that concerted efforts are being made to ensure society rids itself of the problem.
“This is now a global issue but as Bulawayo, let us stand up and give gender-based violence and substance abuse a red card. We need a clean society, which is productive and healthy,” said Dube.
He said having been a coach and referee here, he is aware of the impact sport has in the community.
“Sport brings everyone together and is in itself supposed to be clean and bringing everyone together. To play sport, one needs to be fit and healthy and society needs sober people to function. It is the effective unifying factor about sport that we have found it necessary to have the number one game used as a tool to campaign against these evils,” said Dube.
He said encouraged by the positive response of the first tournament, he will be giving feedback to some of his sponsors in the UK, including Sheffield United, the legendary Peter Ndlovu’s former club.
“We are grateful to some of our sponsors like Paul and Sheffield United. After the event, we realised there is so much talent lying untapped. We will have this as an annual event making more shouts about drug and substance abuse, including gender-based violence,” said Dube.
