9 teenagers arrested at vuzu party

Providence Moyo

In a decisive move to curb the rising trend of vuzu parties among teenagers in Bulawayo, the police conducted a successful raid on Wednesday, resulting in the arrest of nine students from various schools in the city.

Police Spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the arrests and provided details of the operation. Acting on a tip-off, police descended upon a house on Browning Road, Malindela, where a vuzu party was underway. Upon arrival, they encountered a 14-year-old boy standing outside the main house, who directed them to a cottage where seven other students, aged 14 to 16, and a 17-year-old school leaver were engaged in smoking shisha and Chelsea cigarettes while listening to soft music.

During interrogation, the apprehended minors confessed to having hosted similar parties in the past. Hailing from various suburbs of Bulawayo, including Magwegwe West, Old Lobengula, Emakhandeni, Ntumbane, Bellevue, Khumalo, and Malindela, they claimed to be celebrating a friend’s birthday.

The occupant of the house, the father of one of the students, expressed his unawareness of the vuzu parties taking place on his property, stating that he spends most of his time in town as a vendor. The students were eventually released under the custody of their senior teachers.

Inspector Ncube commended the public for providing valuable information that led to the arrests and emphasized the importance of parental involvement in addressing the issue of vuzu parties. He urged parents and guardians to maintain open communication with their children about the dangers of drug use and vuzu parties, highlighting the threat they pose to society.

“We would like to appreciate members of the public for supplying such important information which led to the arrest of the accused persons. The quick reaction by the police saved lives of the students from further decay, however we urge parents and guardians to have continuous communication with their children on the issues to do with drugs and vuzu parties as this has become a major threat to humanity”.

The successful police operation serves as a warning to those involved in organizing or attending vuzu parties, signaling the authorities’ determination to crack down on such gatherings. It also underscores the need for collective action from law enforcement, parents, and the community to address this growing problem and safeguard the well-being of the city’s youth.