Catholic-run Zimbabwe School Expels 8 Students for Taking Illegal DrugsThe Roman-Catholic-run Dominican Convent in Harare has expelled eight pupils, who allegedly used drugs during a school trip to Nyanga a few weeks ago. In a letter to parents, headmistress Sister Kudzai Mutsure said, “I write on a sad note to notify you that the 8 girls we had put on suspension pending investigations on an incident that took place at the 2023 U6 (Upper Sixth) leadership camp which was held in Nyanga from the 12th to the 15th of January, have been excluded from the school with immediate effect “The disciplinary committee exercised all principles of procedural fairness and found the girls guilty of violating the school drug policy. My heart aches for these girls and their parents but my duty of care is to ensure that the school environment is, as far as is practicable, safe and free from all risks. I have a responsibility to the whole school community and possessing, using or supplying a restricted substance including vaping is not acceptable.” In the letter, Sister Mutsure did not specify the types of drugs the girls were using during the school trip. She said, “Investigations are still ongoing and we will not hesitate to weed out any more culprits to sanitise the school space. I pray that the girls will receive the rehabilitation they need and that all parents take an active role, in partnership with the school, to modify the inappropriate behaviour of their children. “I believe that school officials’ efforts to protect students from the dangers of substance abuse are sometimes hampered by parents and community members in denial about the pervasiveness of the problem and the potential for any child to succumb to the lures of drugs.” Sister Mutsure also said, “I appeal to parents to be more vigilant and active by refining their parenting skills and being aware of their children’s activities as our investigations show that the pervasive behaviour started at home.” Education officials were unreachable for comment Thursday evening as they were not responding to calls on their mobile phones. Some teenagers in Zimbabwe are using drugs such as marijuana and crystal meth. Others have turned to vaping. Police, Entumbane residents and other stakeholders in Zimbabwe’s second largest city, Bulawayo, recently conducted a peaceful march in the suburb following reports that some youth were buying drugs from locals.