Youths Urged to Shun Alcohol, Risky Sexual Behaviour Amid Festive Warnings

By Delicious Mathuthu

Gweru - Zimbabwe's youth have been called upon to avoid alcohol abuse and "unnecessary sexual activities" during the festive season while the police and other authorities have been challenged to step up vigilance against delinquency in a bid to protect the nation's future.

ZANU PF Gweru District Coordinating Committee Secretary for Information and Publicity, Victor Maride (pictured), said this on Tuesday 23 December, after Unity Day , tying it to broader calls for discipline and cultural values amid rising concerns over substance abuse and related risks among young people.

"Let's keep an eye to our young ones, we don't want kids that will be delinquent, we call the police and other peace keepers to keep a lookout for the young generation not to abuse alcohol and even to avoid unnecessary sexual activities," Maride said.

He said Zimbabwe is largely religious, hence the need to stick to Christian and cultural values.

"Zimbabwe is a Christian country, let's have Ubuntu during the festive season, we want you today, we want you tomorrow, you are the future, let's be disciplined," he said.

Maride's advice to youths and authorities comes against a backdrop of surging drug and alcohol abuse among Zimbabwe's young population, which has been linked to increased risky behaviors, including during holiday periods when social gatherings and travel intensify.

Recent studies show that around 60% of psychiatric admissions in Zimbabwe are related to drug abuse, with 80% of those cases involving young people.

The prevalence of substance use among youth has been rising, usually spiking during such periods as the festive seasons, with rates climbing from 43% in 2017 to 57% in 2019, according to civil society reports.

Among youths who consume alcohol, 54.1% engage in binge drinking, a pattern associated with hazardous decisions.

The festive season has amplified these issues, with authorities noting heightened risks of alcohol-fueled incidents.

In the last two Christmas periods, road accidents, often tied to drunk driving, claimed dozens of lives, many involving younger drivers or passengers influenced by substances.

Police statistics indicate that between December 15 and December 26, 2023, 87 people were killed in 1,194 road accidents nationwide, with 424 injured.

On Christmas Day of 2023 alone, eight people died in seven fatal crashes.

Last year, about 77 deaths were recorded in 1,211 accidents over the same period in 2024, with 401 injuries.

Christmas Day of 2024 saw 13 fatalities in 104 accidents.

Officials attributed many to human error, including alcohol impairment, with youth often overrepresented in such cases.

In response, the government, especially the Zimbabwe Republic Police, has launched awareness campaigns targeting festive travelers and youth, emphasizing education on drugs and safe conduct.

Maride's call aligns with these efforts, pressing authorities to enforce stricter monitoring.

"On the festive season be alert on the road, drivers must not be over zealous, dont drink and drive, also dont cross flooded rivers with running water," Maride said, extending his message to include road safety.

His message also comes after a December 23, 2025, tragic head-on collision that occurred near Dabuka in Gweru, Zimbabwe, between a Toyota Hilux GD-6 double cab and a Nissan X-Trail, resulting in the immediate deaths of two people, an adult female and a minor.

The driver of the Toyota GD-6 was reportedly traveling from South Africa to Silobela for the festive holidays

"We want a drug free community, we also don't want to lose any life," Maride added.

Experts warn that unchecked substance abuse could undermine development, prompting calls for community and law enforcement involvement to curb festive excesses.