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Yeukai Karengezeka Arts Correspondent
Reigning Miss Universities Zimbabwe, Valerie Chingonzo has embarked on a drug use awareness campaign targeting the youths. Chingonzo who is partnering with Women’s University of Zimbabwe club called Boost Enuctus said the campaign was about the illicit use and abuse of substances drugs and alcohol. “I am doing this project with my university club and we have engaged more than eight schools in Chitungwiza and the Chitungwiza Junior Council.
The campaign is running under the theme “Illicit use and abuse of drugs and alcohol”.

“The project is set to benefit a lot of students and encourages the youths to desist from taking drugs .
“We are saying if possible stop the abuse of drugs because it has detrimental effects like liver cancer, accidents, crime and violence,” she said.

Some of the schools engaged on the project include Seke1, 2 and 3 High Schools, Zengeza 1 to 4 high schools and Herentals College. “We held interactive workshops highlighting the causes of why youths are getting into drugs and we gave possible solutions to the problems that emanate from drug abuse,” she said.

They also released a song that has a video titled “Catch Them Young” which they did with upcoming urban grooves artiste Bryan Nyawo.
Apart from this project Chingonzo is also working with Childline on children campaigns.

Childline is a free, confidential counselling service for all children below the age of 18 and has a 24hour help line.
The 22-year-old queen walked away with a Toyota Vitz, iPad and a tuition for two semesters among other cash prizes when she was crowned in October last year.