16 Oct 2018

Alcohol and drug abuse is still a major concern in Tlokweng, says the Tlokweng Sub-district Council chairperson, Ms Norah Nkwe.

Speaking during a walk about in the village recently, which was organised by students of the Institute of Health Sciences (IHS) from Gaborone, Ms Nkwe expressed dismay over young people who were involved in drug and substance abuse.

“There are some homesteads in Tlokweng that deal in drugs, which end up reaching students at school.

She said students end up assaulting teachers and even stabbing them with knives, adding that there were some depots in Tlokweng which also sell drugs where both the elders and the young congregate all night long taking drugs.

“Killings that happen time and again in Tlokweng are caused by drugs.

People steal money to buy those drugs,” she said.

Ms Nkwe said since Tlokweng was near the border and Gaborone, drugs enter the village easily and urged parents to educate their children about the dangers of taking drugs and alcohol as well as stealing.

She applauded the campaign team for the gesture, noting that if one to two people could change their attitude, the whole community could as well change.

The organiser of the campaign who is also IHS student Ms Michelle Ebineng said the aim of the walk was to sensitise the youth on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

She said this came after consultation with the community of Tlokweng about the issues that  were of concern in their village.

“We met social workers, dikgosi, councillors and other village elders, most parents in Tlokweng explained that most of the youth are involved in substance and drug abuse, which led to assaults and killings, that’s when we decided to come and educate on issues of drug abuse,” said Ms Ebineng.

Crime Prevention Cordinator Ms Phemelo Chanake from Botswana Police Services said issues of drug and alcohol abuse were a major concern in Tlokweng.

Ms Chanake highlighted that drugs affected everyone in one way or the other, especially the youth, noting that some of the drugs that were common in Botswana were marijuana and cocaine.

The walk about attracted government officials, students from Tlokweng schools as well as parents. ENDS