By Tavita Natasha Mpala
CID Officer in Charge for Masvingo District Detective Inspector Hazvinei Jindu has stated that drug abuse has become rampant in Masvingo and in Zimbabwe as a whole.
“We have a drug called mbanje if you are caught with it even at your yard you will be arrested so for you to be safe stay away from drugs. Parents should take extreme measures when disciplining your children and you must not spoil them. We also have syrups like broncleer and others that contain codeine and not allowed in Zimbabwe as it has 96.6 alcohol content.
All these cough syrups are the ones taken by people to get drunk. Parents should take extreme and stern measures when disciplining your children and you must not spoil them too much.”
She added on to say that women are abusing skin lightening creams and Prolonged use can contribute to premature aging of skin.
“Drugs and substance abuse is not only affecting school children but the greater community as people are misusing drugs. l want to talk about substance abuse on lightening creams, when God created a person he gave him or her what we call Melanin this is the black pigment that we have that protects us from the sun.
The moment you are using the bleaching creams it will peel off the black pigment that God gave you and at the end of the day we now have women with little or less melanin and the skin becomes more and more fragile causing you to have several diseases such as cancer.”
We also have pills here called Appetito the name was derived from appetite for men to have appetite for sex but women are now using them to enlarge their breast, hips and buttocks.
We also have the tables called the African black ant that are used by girls and women to restore their virginity and if you take these tablets cause the private parts to swell up from the inside and during sexual intercourse the man will enjoy the act but the woman won’t because there will be friction and you are highly to have cervical cancer, thrush and cancer of the blood.
Men are also abusing sex enhancing tablets and drugs for enlarging their organs and once you take these drugs you no longer function properly you will now be relying with drugs. Do not be pressured to take sex enlarging pills with anyone just appreciate how God made you.”
According to the World Health Organization 2023 report Skin lightening products can cause skin rashes and discolouration.
“The governments of Gabon, Jamaica and Sri Lanka have joined forces to fight back against damaging beauty practices, launching a joint US$14-million project to eliminate the use of mercury in skin lightening products.
Using cosmetics to inhibit the body’s production of melanin, leading the skin to appear lighter, is a centuries-old practice in many parts of the world that continues to take a toxic toll today. Both men and women use skin lightening products, not only to lighten their skin but to fade freckles, blemishes, age spots and treat acne.
However, consumers are often unaware that many of these products contain harmful chemicals including mercury, a toxic substance which poses risks to human health and contaminates the environment. Skin lightening products can cause skin rashes and discolouration; scarring; nervous, digestive and immune system damage, as well as anxiety and depression.”