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Conrad Mupesa 

Mashonaland West Bureau

ZIMBABWEANS in the diaspora continue to heed President Mnangagwa’s call for them to plough back into the country with a US-based Zimbabwean supporting the Government’s sports policy to fight drug abuse and child marriages. 

Mr Anyway Mupesewa who was born-and-bred in the Mhangura-Doma area in Mashonaland West before relocating to Knoxville in Tennessee, has taken it upon himself to bankroll a sports tournament aimed at capturing and exposing young talent while at the same time fighting moral decadency. 

Mr Mupesewa is the founder and director of Redeem All Ministries. 

The 5th sports tournament, was this year, targeting 8 to 14 age groups, drawn from lower and upper Mhangura-Doma farms. 

The targeted age groups are being exposed to mbanje, illicit beers, other drugs, and child marriages. 

For a soccer player, Simbarashe Kakoma (12) of Hundred Ends Farm in Mhangura’s Ward 11, the tourney helped inculcate sound moral values in him and other juveniles. 

“A lot of boys of my age are involved in drug and substance abuse. Most of them use mbanje and potentially dangerous brews such as Tumbwa. 

“The tournament has however shown us the bad effects of drugs,” he said. 

Another beneficiary, Munashe Alfred, an 11-year-old girl from Doma said while it had become a trend for young girls in the area to settle down at a very tender age, there was the need for girls to pursue education first. 

A local pastor, Mr Ringapio Zvabata said through such initiatives, a peaceful society that fears God was all Zimbabwe need. 

A sports expert and former premier league football player, Mr Nixon Maguvaza, commended the efforts saying they were going to help expose young talent that is often neglected. 

“Mr Mupesewa has answered President Mnangagwa’s call for Zimbabweans abroad to plough back into the community. He is investing in the sports industry and we hope to scout talent from the grassroots that can raise Zimbabwe’s flag high,” he said. Mr Mupesewa said his efforts were aimed at complementing the government’s efforts towards fighting the scourge of drug and substance abuse. 

Zimbabwe is battling drug and substance abuse with farming compounds and communal previously regarded as safe zone now falling prey to drug lords.