POLICE in Bulawayo rounded up and later dispersed scores of Grade Seven pupils in several entertainment joints across the city after the children were caught drinking alcohol and smoking in broad daylight last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minors, ranging between 12 and 13 years old, organised the illegal gatherings known as \u2018pens down parties\u2019 under the guise of marking the end of their primary school education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over 400 000 candidates finished writing their 2026 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) Grade Seven examinations last Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Friday and Saturday, Bulawayo police had their hands full reacting to tip-offs by concerned members of the public that groups of school children were spotted at entertainment centres across the city drinking alcohol and smoking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, said authorities were worried that children as young as 12 years old were rounded up indulging in alcohol drinking and unsafe behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is so concerning is that these children were rounded up by police drinking in the midst of people who are old enough to be their parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018\u2018As Bulawayo residents, what message are we sending when Grade Seven pupils can drink alcohol and smoke in front of adults and we don\u2019t see anything wrong with that behaviour?\u201d said Insp Msebele in an address to thousands of football fans that attended the Centenary Exhibition match between Highlanders and Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a father, mother, sister, brother, uncle and aunt why would you let children drink alcohol and smoke in your presence at a public place that is meant for adults? Police were tipped by concerned members of the public and we reacted swiftly, rounded up the children and dismissed them from the various places where they were drinking alcohol,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Insp Msebele appealed to parents and guardians to always monitor the activities and movements of their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe children were drinking in celebration of what they termed \u2018pens down parties\u2019, but as police we\u2019ll not allow that behaviour to continue. We\u2019ll also go after establishments that sell alcohol to minors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPolice also discourage parents and guardians from sending children to go and buy alcohol on their behalf. A parent must go and buy alcohol themselves and not expose children to environments that will influence them to indulge in untoward behaviour,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In August this year, Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube sounded the alarm about the increase in Vuzu parties after intelligence gathered by security agencies revealed that young people have turned to holding the illegal parties inside mobile kombis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe young people have moved away from holding the illegal Vuzu parties at homes because of the arrests that have been taking place and are now doing these very sad things in kombis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet us report these kombis to law enforcement agencies,\u201d said Minister Ncube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She urged transport operators, including the Bulawayo Public Transport Association (Bupta) and Tshova Mubaiwa, to regularly inspect their vehicles and take drastic action against drivers who allow their kombis to be used as mobile party venues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese young people would pay drivers and the kombi will be moving around the city non-stop while its seats would be turned into a bedroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnce we come across such kombis, let us quietly take down their number plates and give them to our police,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minister Ncube, however, raised concern over some police officers allegedly exposing people who provide information about suspected illegal activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe problem is that some of our police officers, not all of them, are the ones who will take that information and tell the suspects that so-and-so gave them the details, and this tends to scare away those with information,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister urged stakeholders to work together to protect young people from drug and substance abuse, saying the emerging trend required urgent intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n