Police in Chegutu have confirmed the arrest of 22 youths at a wild party disguised as a birthday celebration held over the weekend, following a tip-off about potential drug abuse.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Mashonaland West Provincial acting spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Effort Chapoto, told <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/22-youths-arrested-for-attending-vuzu-party-in-chegutu/">NewZimbabwe.com</a> that the arrested youths were aged between 15 and 25 years old. He said:
<blockquote>
ZRP Chegutu arrested 22 youths aged between 15 to 25 years for convening a party where drugs and substances were abused.
Circumstances are that Tinashe Kamunda (23) of House Number 30160 Rifle Range, Chegutu created some WhatsApp group links where he advertised a birthday concert.
Attendance was on payment of US$2 for boys and US$1 for girls plus an extra US$5 for liquor each. The party was held under closed durawall with music and dances.
Police received a tip-off that there was suspected drug abuse by youths at a party in Rifle Range. Reacting to the information, ZRP Chegutu raided the house and arrested 15 boys and 7 girls.
</blockquote>
Chapoto added that searches conducted around the house led to the discovery of stubs of smoked dagga, unused condoms, liquor, and shisha-smoking equipment. Parents and guardians of the accused were contacted.
Kamunda was charged with disorderly conduct and paid an admission of guilt fine, while the other youths were fined for a lesser charge and released into the custody of their parents.
The police urged parents and guardians to regularly check and confirm their children’s whereabouts.
Chapoto also thanked members of the public for providing information that led to the bust, adding that collaboration between the community and the police often yields positive results.

Pindula News

Police in Chegutu arrested 22 young people at a party where drugs were being used. The party was actually a birthday celebration, but it turned wild. The young people were between 15 and 25 years old. They were caught using drugs like dagga and alcohol. The police found out about the party from a tip-off. The person who organized the party was fined for causing trouble. The other young people were fined too, and their parents were called. The police want parents to keep an eye on their children to prevent this from happening again. Collaboration with the community helped the police catch the drug users.

ZRP Arrests 22 Youths In Chegutu For Drug Abuse At Weekend Party

The arrest and conviction of a Bulawayo woman, Panashe Mpofu, for spanking teenagers, including her own child, for hosting a Vuzu party while they were supposed to be at school, has sparked renewed debate over corporal punishment, reported <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200036245/womans-disciplinary-act-sparks-debate">Southern Eye</a>.
Corporal punishment involves using physical force to discipline someone, typically a child, to cause pain or discomfort. This can include actions such as spanking, slapping, or hitting with an object.
The case caused public outrage after Mpofu was found guilty of physical abuse and sentenced to two years in jail.
Since November 14, she has been held at Mlondozi Prison, a section of Khami Maximum Security Prison.
However, Mpofu’s sentence was recently reviewed, and she was released by Bulawayo High Court Judge Evangelista Kabasa.
In response to the case, Raymond Majongwe, secretary-general of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), defended corporal punishment, stating that it was necessary to discipline unruly children. Said Majongwe:
<blockquote>
This is the only way our children will be disciplined to teach them Ubuntu.
We must not do things to impress other countries by removing corporal punishment.
That is the only way we can be able to control our children.
</blockquote>
Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) chairperson Winos Dube said corporal punishment should be applied. Dube said:
<blockquote>
Unlike this generation, whenever corporal punishment is applied to them, they view it as abuse and this must be revisited.
</blockquote>
City of Bulawayo Ward 6 councillor Nkosinathi Hove Mpofu said:
<blockquote>
Corporal punishment is just a way of indicating love and it must be applied because an individual would be moulding the child to be a better person in future.
</blockquote>
Methodist church pastor Bhekithemba Phiri said minimum punishment is helpful. Said the Reverend:
<blockquote>
It should be brought in a minimum way to assist this new generation. A number of people from the older generation are better people today in terms of respect and discipline because they went through corporal punishment.
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However, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union (ARTUZ) of Zimbabwe leader Obert Masaraure, is detrimental to children’s well-being. He said:
<blockquote>
Studies have shown that corporal punishment can increase anxiety and depression in students, which can exacerbate substance abuse issues.
</blockquote>
In 2023, a High Court judge ruled that corporal punishment was permissible if the intent to discipline is proven, and it could not be classified as assault or a criminal offence.
Justice Munamato Mutevedzi made this ruling when he cleared Yeukai Graham Mutero of charges of killing her 13-year-old son while trying to discipline him.
Section 68A of the Constitution outlaws corporal punishment in schools, based on the constitutional prohibition against any physical or psychological torture, or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Panashe Mpofu, a woman from Bulawayo, got in trouble for spanking teenagers, including her own child, for skipping school to party. People are debating whether it's okay to use physical punishment like spanking to discipline kids. Some say it's necessary to teach kids respect and discipline, while others say it can harm kids' mental health. There was a court case where a mom was cleared of killing her son while trying to discipline him. The law in Zimbabwe says schools can't use corporal punishment because it's seen as torture or cruel treatment.

Bulawayo Woman's Jailing For Spanking Teens Revives Debate On Corporal Punishment

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>

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 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

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has reported the arrest of 19 students from Corridors of Hope College, as well as individuals from nearby schools, who were on the verge of commencing a party in Dzivarasekwa. A police report, obtained by Pindula News, indicates that law enforcement officers intervened just before the initiation of the event and seized numerous items, including alcohol, wine, condoms, and shisha. The report states:
<blockquote>
The ZRP confirms that a raid has been conducted at a sex party at number 153 Nehanda Dzivarasekwa Extension where some students from Corridors of Hope College and others from neighbouring schools were about to start the party. 19 students and the caretaker of the house, Pride Nyamugafata (20), have been arrested. Several bottles of alcohol, wines, condoms, shisha and its flavour have been confiscated. More details to be availed soon.
</blockquote>
Reports of Vuzu or orgy parties have been on the rise in Zimbabwe. Incidents involving the arrest of students for participating in these parties have also been on the rise. One notable case occurred in November 2022 when police arrested 39 students from different schools in Bulawayo during a raid on a Vuzu party in the Khumalo suburb. In October 2021, 16 individuals were also apprehended in the Kuwadzana suburb of Harare on charges of public nuisance following a sex party. Vuzu parties are secret indoor gatherings, predominantly organised by teenagers, where alcohol consumption, drug use, and sexual orgies are prevalent. 
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

ZRP Arrests 19 Students For Organising 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.

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