MAYOR LEADS WAY IN DRUGS FIGHT

THE Mayor of Tsumeb, Veueza Kasiringua, has commended the National
Police Force for its professional conduct in busting drug trafficking
rings that attempt to smuggle large consignments of drugs into the
country.

According to her, the police have clearly illustrated their commitment
towards rooting out drug dealers, many of whom boast of foreign identities.

The mayor further cautioned local citizens to stop collaborating with
foreign drug lords, whose conduct is aimed at destroying the lives of
young Namibians, a situation that could impact negatively on the
economic growth of the country.

"I would like to invite the community of Tsumeb to report drug
traffickers to the police so that we stand united as one against
crime. So far we have enumerated the government, the police force, the
local community and the youth and we subsequently have many players in
the task to combat crime; we can therefore not operate in isolation,"
she noted.

Kasiringua pointed out that the Tsumeb municipality has donated a
facility to the youth to encourage them to identify youth related
programmes which should engage them in activities of a developmental
nature, rather than indulging in drugs and alcohol abuse.

She also appealed to the local police to act strictly against drug
dealers in the town, and further encouraged them to emulate the
example of their fellow law maintenance officers in other parts of the
country, reportedly exercising extra efforts to fight drug dealers and
users.

Drug abuse has led to criminal activities such as theft, rape, women
and children abuse, killings, housebreaking and drug trafficking, she
said.

The Police Regional District Commander, Chief Inspector Erastus
Shesandi, recently announced that his staff would be enforced to
monitor the activities of drug dealers in the town. He hinted that the
police are soon to close down on the culprits, but would not divulge
more information about their strategy.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity told New Era that he had
set up a withdrawal programme for himself, which will enable him to
get rid of the symptoms of drug abuse.

"It is very difficult to stop smoking cannabis. I have recently
discovered how long I have been destroying my life. I have even taught
the youth to smoke dagga, I really feel sorry for them, but they must
take my example -- I am giving up cannabis. There is a time for
everything, a time to learn to smoke dagga and a time to end that
tendency, once and for all," said the 45-year-old local source. The
youth-scene at the town has reportedly been filled with more youth
indulging in drug abuse instead of employing more efforts to secure
jobs.

"People from other towns are penetrating the job markets while our
local unemployed youth are in a state of drugged mentalities. They are
ever drugged, cannot make efforts to seek jobs, they stay in bushes
like monkeys, simply to smoke dagga. And after smoking the stuff they
just laugh at the advice you give them -- these people clearly show
signs that they are living in a different world. Police, please save
our children," an elderly source lamented.

The Chief Social Worker in the Oshikoto Region, Manny Kandjii equally,
expressed concern over the rising rate of drug and alcohol abuse
amongst the youth at the town.

Statistics have shown that it has become very costly for the
government to rehabilitate drug addicts, who have to be admitted to
rehabilitation centres at the expense of the state.

"Millions of dollars of public money are swallowed up in the
additional services that society has to provide to deal with damages
caused by drug abuse. Intoxicating drug consumption leads to
accidents, which place additional burdens on medical and social
welfare programmes," said Kandjii.

A Grade 11 student at the Etosha Secondary School at the town, Leiden
Muonde, told New Era that their school has formed a peer pressure
group to mobilise teenagers against the use and subsequent abuse of
drugs and alcohol.

"We will not judge or insult drug abusers but will preferably assist
them to turn enemy against the societal evil. We are ready to accept
any responsibility towards combating drugs," stressed Muonde.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services offers counselling services
to drug abusers and their families as rehabilitation through the
Etegameno Rehabilitation Centre, which is situated outside Windhoek at
a cost of N$600 per person. Reports say that inmates stay for a
six-week programme under the supervision of a multi-professional team.