The Sunday News
Mthabisi Tshuma, Sunday News Reporter
LEGISLATORS from Bulilima district in Matabeleland South have called upon traditional leaders, local leadership and churches to engage youths in counselling in order to alleviate challenges of depression, drug abuse and suicide.
Many youths of late have resorted to suicide allegedly due to social pressures.
Addressing mourners yesterday at a funeral of a youth who committed suicide last Sunday in Makumbi village in Bulilima district, Proportional Representative for Bulilima and Mangwe district who is also Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Evelyn Ndlovu said it was the role of community stakeholders to help curb challenges faced by the youths.
“We are gathered here to mourn the death of a young woman who committed suicide due to circumstances beyond her control, a scenario that has left the whole society shocked.
Such situations show a loophole that needs to be urgently addressed. Headman, village heads, councillors and churches you have a role to play. Back in the day we knew that you played a part in counselling societies to nurture a fully-fledged community,” said Dr Ndlovu.
Dr Ndlovu said it is saddening that the passing on of the late youth in her early 20s comes at a time when the nation joins the world to commemorate International Women’s Day.
Bulilima West MP Cde Dingumuzi Phuti who is also Deputy Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services said youths from Ward 7 should group themselves and identify projects which they desire to pursue so that they can be assisted with capital.
“Although we are mourning the passing on of one of our youths, it is pleasing that one of her own, youths came in numbers to ensure she gets a befitting send-off.
I was talking to Dr Ndlovu that there is need to empower youths and we have seen it fit to that they group themselves and identify any income-generating project which will ensure they have a sustainable income that will change their livelihoods and also encourage them to do away from things like drugs or even taking their lives.
There are organisations which we will engage to ensure they inject capital to make sure the projects are a success and our youths benefit immensely,” said Cde Phuti. – @mthabisi_mthire
