A Bulawayo woman who was sentenced to two years in jail for disciplining teenagers, including her own child, for hosting a Vuzu party during school hours, has been released from prison.
Panashe Mpofu found the teenagers, who were in Form Two, hosting a Vuzu party in Luveve suburb.
A Vuzu party is a term used to describe wild, unsupervised gatherings often hosted by teenagers, especially during school holidays.
These parties are characterized by excessive drinking, drug use (including marijuana), and often sexual activities.
They have become a concerning trend due to the risky behaviours and potential negative consequences, such as teenage pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Mpofu had been imprisoned at Mlondozi Prison, a section of Khami Maximum Prison, since November 14, but was recently set free by Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Evangelista Kabasa, after a review of the case.
Responding to inquiries from the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/jailed-vuzu-party-sons-mum-freed/">Chronicle</a> on Monday night, Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Permanent Secretary, Vimbai Nyemba, confirmed that Justice Kabasa had quashed the magistrate’s sentence and conviction on review and issued a warrant of liberation. Said Nyemba:
<blockquote>
If there is a dispute concerning a lower court’s judgment, a High Court judge revisits the papers for the case in question and they can issue a warrant of liberation or they can agree with the judgment. In the case in question, Justice Kabasa issued a warrant of liberation.
</blockquote>
Mpofu was represented by lawyer Tinashe Runganga of Tanaka Law Chambers in Bulawayo.
In a video from prison, which sparked a public outcry among Bulawayo residents and social media users who felt the mother was punished for fulfilling her parental duty, Mpofu said:
<blockquote>
It was on a Friday when I came back home from church. People told me that my son and his friends were having a party at a house nearby that they had bunked school.
However, one girl’s mother then said I was not supposed to beat her child and reported me to the police.
On November 13, I was told to come to court the following day. I spent the night at Mlondolozi Prison again. When I went to court, there was no one except the guards.
They told me that I had been sentenced to two years in prison for my offence, but they were going to deduct six months.
When I said I wanted to present my witnesses, they said my issue did not have witnesses, of which all my witnesses were there, but were not given a chance to say anything, leading to my fate.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

A mom in Bulawayo caught teens at a wild party and got jailed for disciplining them. The party was risky with drinking, drugs, and sex. She was freed by a High Court judge after a review. People were upset because she was just trying to do her job as a mom. The mom said she had witnesses but wasn't allowed to speak in court. Now she's out of jail. Vuzu parties are a problem because they can lead to bad things like teen pregnancies and diseases.

High Court Overturns Jail Sentence For Bulawayo Mother Who Disciplined Teens At Vuzu Party

Police in Bulawayo arrested ten juveniles aged between 14 and 16 at a vuzu party at number 12 Browning Road, Bradfield, Hillside on Thursday.
Vuzu parties are gatherings where youths, mostly teenagers, engage in alcohol-drinking sprees, drug abuse and sex orgies.
The parties are common just before schools open or a week after closing.
In a statement, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said some of the juveniles were smoking shisha which contained a substance that is now being investigated by CID Drugs and Narcotics. ZRP said:
<blockquote>
The ZRP has arrested 10 juveniles aged between 14 years and 16 years at a vuzu party at number 12 Browning Road, Bradfield, Hillside, Bulawayo.
The majority of the juveniles are from two local schools while two are school drop-outs.
Some of them were smoking shisha which contains a substance which is now being verified by CID Drugs and Narcotics.
The Police is now engaging the parents and school authorities for the juveniles.
</blockquote>
In November 2023, Police in Bulawayo appealed for a collective effort to eradicate Vuzu parties after a message surfaced on social media platforms mobilising children for a Vuzu party at Parklands Suburb.
Bulawayo Acting Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said Vuzu parties threaten the academic progress, physical well-being, and mental health of the children involved.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

8 Learners, 2 School Drop-outs Arrested At Vuzu Party

Police in Bulawayo have appealed for a collective effort to eradicate Vuzu parties after a message surfaced on social media platforms mobilising children for a Vuzu party at Parklands Suburb.
According to the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/police-move-to-stop-wild-sex-parties-and-protect-minors-in-bulawayo/">Chronicle</a>, Vuzu parties are big, loud, and noisy parties usually organised by school children and sometimes sponsored by older people who may offer drugs and alcohol to minors before taking advantage of them in unprotected group sex sessions.
In a statement, Bulawayo Acting Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said Vuzu parties threaten the academic progress, physical well-being, and mental health of the children involved. She said:
<blockquote>
The excitement following the end of exams can sometimes lead to irresponsible behaviour, and the police are determined to crack down on illegal parties and those who facilitate them by strictly enforcing existing laws.
The prevalence of these illegal parties poses a direct threat not only to the academic progress of the students involved but also to their physical and mental well-being.
Vuzu Parties clamp down requires a collective effort from all of us. We cannot expect to eradicate illegal parties and the abuse of drugs and alcohol among schoolchildren without actively involving parents, teachers, community leaders, and the students themselves.
Let us work together to create a safe and empowering environment for our youths. Report a Vuzu Party.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Police Call For Collective Effort To Eradicate Vuzu Parties

Police in Bulawayo have commended the local community for supporting their efforts to eradicate Vuzu parties where schoolchildren engage in sexual orgies, drug and alcohol abuse at selected houses.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson in Bulawayo Province, Inspector Abednico Ncube said young people are now finding it hard to find venues to hold the parties.
He was speaking during a recent meeting with journalists following concerns that criminal activities were on the rise in the city. The <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200018909/police-pounce-on-vuzu-parties">Southern Eye</a> quoted Inspector Ncube as saying:
<blockquote>
As far as the police and the Bulawayo community are concerned, the issue of Vuzu parties is being handled properly and the juveniles are now failing to get anywhere.
This is because the problem was the availability of venues in the absence of parents who are in the diaspora or at work, (meaning that) from 7 AM to 4:30 PM, the house will be free.
The community in Bulawayo is excellent and pleasing. At times, you might think things are out of place in Bulawayo because any drop of a fly is reported.
</blockquote>
Ncube said the ZRP has noted that schoolchildren who took part in Vuzu parties mostly lived alone. He said:
<blockquote>
(Vuzu parties) originated from issues to do with birthday parties, and simple celebrations, but when they get to the extent of abusing drugs and sexual activities, they will then target some free houses.
Initially, they were using some lodges and the police and the public exposed them.
We were receiving phone calls from members of the public saying a kombi was taking some students to such places.
If ever a parent realises that there is a kombi or a gathering of youths at a house, they should immediately report it to the police.
</blockquote>
On 15 September 2023, Police in Bulawayo pounced on a house in Pumula South suburb where 14 learners who wearing uniforms from different schools were attending a vuzu party. Condoms and empty beer containers were found at the party.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Vuzu Parties Under Control - Police

Police in Bulawayo have initiated investigations into a Vuzu party that was held at a house in Pumula South suburb on Friday.
The infamous Vuzu parties are social events where youth, mostly teenagers engage in excessive beer drinking, drug abuse and sex orgies.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) this Saturday, police said the party had 14 learners who wearing uniforms from different schools.
Condoms and empty beer containers were found at the party. Police said:
<blockquote>
Police in Bulawayo are investigating an incident in which 14 students, who were wearing different school uniforms, were found at a Vuzu party at a certain house in Pumula South on 15/07/23. Condoms and empty containers of alcohol were recovered at the scene.
</blockquote>
In 2019, one of the attendees of the early Vuzu parties or Vuzooms, Leroy Mufudzi described their genesis in 2011.
He told <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/sex-drugs-and-social-disorder-the-birth-of-bulawayos-vuzu-parties/">a weekly publication</a> that the Vuzu parties started at Bulawayo’s Hillside dams where a kombi owner called Max would bring students and girls from private colleges.
The kombi had a booming sound system, which suggests the origins of the name “Vuzooms”. Said Mufudzi:
<blockquote>
The first Vuzu parties started at Hillside Dams.
They were held there and most people would just come to party close to the gate at Dams.
The masterminds of the whole Vuzu thing or I can call them the founders, were this guy called Max and others.
He was a dreadlocked guy and he had a kombi with a booming sound system. He used to take girls from Girls College using that kombi.
We would go there and the guy’s car would be the life of the party. It would be the only sound system and people would gather around it.
There you would find students from CBC, Girls College, Convent, Eveline, Townsend, Milton and Plumtree. The boys who had the most shine were from CBC and Plumtree.
It was a thing for private school kids so you didn’t have a lot of people from the western areas.
But as time went on, one person that goes to CBC that was from the western areas would bring another from the western areas and that one would bring another and on and on it went.
</blockquote>
In August 2022, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson in Bulawayo Province Inspector Abednico Ncube declared that Vuzu parties had been dealt with and were a thing of the past.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Police Round Up 14 Schoolchildren At A Vuzu Party

Police have called on the government to outlaw “vuzu” parties saying they promote drug and sex abuse among the youth.
On Saturday, apostolic churches partnered with police in an anti-drug campaign at Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield.
Various apostolic faith churches from Chitungwiza, led by Madzibaba Owen Chingondi, and Highfield-based Madzibaba Moses Gwanzura attended the function where several musicians performed.
Detective Sergeant Netty Kundizeza said some young people are made to abuse drugs at Vuzu parties in some cases unknowingly. Said Kundizeza:
<blockquote>
Our nation is losing talented people due to the abuse of drugs. Vuzu parties must be outlawed as they encourage drug and sex abuse among the youth.
Some youths are being abused at Vuzu parties where they are lured into eating cakes and drinks mixed with dangerous drugs.
Mutoriro, tumbwa nedombo zvaparadza vana vedu tovaviga toshaya anotishandira nekushandira nyika yedu.
Parents, let us join hands in monitoring and teaching our children to desist from abusing these drugs and substances.
</blockquote>
Speaking at the event, Madzibaba Moses said that they decided to partner with the police to fight drug abuse. He said:
<blockquote>
Our marriage with the police is to fight crime. We organised this musical show to address people about the dangers of drug and substance abuse.
</blockquote>
Not all people come for prayers, but all people are affected by the few who engage in criminal activities.
Our musicians are here to strike the right chords for our message to sink into their minds that our nation can only be built by us.
Among the artists who performed were Allan Chimbetu and Mark Ngwazi. | <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/outlaw-vuzu-parties/">H-Metro</a>

Outlaw Vuzu Parties - Police

Police in Bulawayo on Friday arrested 39 students from various schools in the city after raiding a Vuzu party in Khumalo suburb.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police officers who raided the event found some used and unused condoms, beer, and cigarettes at the scene. He said:
<blockquote>
The ZRP confirms the arrest of 39 students from various schools in Bulawayo at a certain house in Khumalo suburb, on 18/11/22 while conducting a VUZU Party. Some whisky, cigarette stubs, used and unused condoms were recovered at the scene.
</blockquote>
He added that investigations are still ongoing and more information will be availed.
Vuzu parties are secretive indoor gatherings, mostly held by teenagers, where they will be drinking beer, doing drugs, and engaging in sex orgies.
In October 2021, 16 people were arrested in Kuwadzana suburb, Harare on public nuisance charges after they held a sex party.

Police Arrest 39 Students At "Vuzu Party" In Bulawayo

Various stakeholders congregated in Bulawayo on Thursday to discuss the issue of Vuzu parties which reportedly promote moral decadence among the city’s youths.
The meeting was organised by the Bulawayo chapter of Junior Chamber International in partnership with Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) and Betterman Foundation.
A youth representative, Trevor Gurajena, stated that Vuzu parties started as innocent parties which later degenerated into sexual orgies where illicit drugs are consumed. He said:
<blockquote>Vuzu parties started as a plain party, where children would go and dance to music, but nowadays they indulge in sexual activities, as well as abuse drugs and alcohol.
There are different types of Vuzu parties and these include the plain Vuzu party, the $5-Vuzu party, where there would be a minimum of 10 girls and 10 men who get into a sex competition.
The one who sleeps with all the girls becomes the king and the lady who sleeps with all the boys becomes the queen; they also share the money obtained from the attendance fee.</blockquote>
Police in Bulawayo said that they have started investigations into the problem and implored parents and teachers to be involved to stop the behaviour.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/06/byo-stakeholders-brainstorm-over-vuzu-parties/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Newsday</a></h4>

Bulawayo's Vuzu Parties Under The Spotlight

A form four Nkulumane pupil, Brandon Zimba is reported dead after he allegedly drank excessively at a vuzu party over the weekend.
Zimba’s mother who was greatly hurt by her son’s death believes her son is a victim of peer pressure. Ms. Sithembiso Zimba, Brandon’s mother said:
<blockquote>Never at any point in my life did I ever imagine that my child would drink himself to death. Growing up, he was obedient and brilliant in school…
At the new school, I started receiving reports that he had started drinking. The elders who stayed with him would sit him down and each time he apologised and promised to change.</blockquote>
<div class="sirius-dfp-inarticle"></div>
She further lamented over the moral decadence grounding the Zimbabwean society. Ms Zimba also believes that her son could be alive if it were not of the fact that she stays in Sout Africa where she is working. She Lamented:
<blockquote>I keep asking myself if the situation would have been different had I stayed home and taken care of my children. But I am living in South Africa to work and fend for my children. I did all I could for him as a single parent…</blockquote>
This death was confirmed by Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube. He also revealed that investigations were underway.
Over the weekend, more than 100 teenagers were arrested at a vuzu party in Bulawayo. Alcohol, sexual enhancing drugs, used condoms, and knives were retrieved from the crime scene.

Form 4 Pupil Drinks To Death At A Vuzu Party

131 youths were arrested in Bulawayo for conducting the infamous “vuzu” parties in the city over the weekend. A Vuzu party has been defined by some as an orgy or underground club setting party for teenagers, popular in Bulawayo where they engage in all sorts of immoral behavior.
The youths, including one 13-year-old boy and 15 girls, who were being held in custody will appear in court today.
ZRP Acting Spokesperson for Bulawayo province, Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the arrest with the ZBC News. Ncube also revealed that some of the young people are alleged to have been drunk on alcohol and drugs. Alcohol, drugs and used condoms, as well as sex enhancing pills, were discovered at the crime scene. Below is a photo of things discovered.
<img decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D5zbv_4X4AIRFu4.jpg"/>
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has appealed to parents and other members of the community to assist law enforcement agencies in dealing with the vuzu parties scourge which has rocked Bulawayo.
Whilst some have suggested that those engaged in such parties be rounded up and disciplined, some have dug into the likely causes of such parties. Some have claimed that parents are no longer executing their duties, objects, and responsibilities as guardians in society. Some have blamed economic conditions for the conduct of the youths.
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More: <a href="http://www.zbc.co.zw/131-youths-nabbed-during-vuzu-party/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ZBC News</a>

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