Zvimba South MP Taurai Dexter Malinganiso (ZANU PF) has castigated local musicians Hulengende and his partner Malloti Rose, accusing them of using vulgar language and promoting drug and substance abuse during their performances.
Malinganiso raised the issue in the National Assembly on Tuesday as a matter of national interest.
He said some artists, socialites, musicians and digital influencers are contributing to moral decline among young people, particularly through explicit language on social media and the promotion of drug use. Said Malinganiso:
“I rise to present a matter of profound national importance which speaks not only to governance but to the moral fabric and social direction of our nation.
“It is with deep concern that I draw the attention of this House to a growing and troubling counterforce undermining these national efforts.
“We are witnessing an alarming trend whereby certain individuals, the likes of dancehall artists Hulengende and Chimonyo (Malloti), individuals who command significant influence over the younger generation, are openly promoting and normalising drug and substance abuse on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
“More disturbing is the manner in which this content is being disseminated; the use of explicit and vulgar language, particularly in vernacular expressions, erodes societal values.”
He added that the public display and glorification of illegal substances, including cannabis, is in breach of the country’s laws.
The lawmaker also pointed to the growing misuse of prescription medicines such as Broncleer, codeine and Benylin, which are increasingly being abused for recreational purposes. He said:
“Shockingly, instances where such conduct is performed in the presence of children, for the cases of the names that I mentioned above, these drugs are being used in the presence of their newborn baby, thereby normalising deviant behaviour within the domestic space.
“There are even recorded incidents where public figures have gone as far as distributing illegal substances to members of the public during live broadcasts.
“In this instance, an artist gave a fan a marijuana plant, trivialising both the law and the grave consequences of substance abuse.
“MPs must be clear. Parliament is not only a custodian of economic and political discourse, but also a guardian of the nation’s moral compass.
“Social conduct, cultural norms and public behaviour are not peripheral issues as they are central to nation-building.”
Malinganiso warned that if the online glorification of substance abuse is left unchecked, it could entrench a culture of indiscipline, lawlessness and moral decline among young people.
He called for urgent action, including tighter regulation and monitoring of harmful online content, stronger enforcement of drug and cyber laws, and tougher penalties for offenders.
More: NewZimbabwe.com
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