Latwell Nyangu
SONGBIRD Pauline Gundidza has combined forces with Dhadza D and Fuzzy L on a song titled It’s Never Too Late, which denounces drug and substance abuse.
The song captures the effects of drug abuse and mental health wellness.
“When I wrote this song I was deep in alcohol abuse but I needed a way out, I kept trying to quit and to change but I would relapse.
“So, I had to sing something that might be received by people in this situation.
“It was like I was singing to myself.
“Then a lot of people around me were also struggling with substance abuse, especially after Covid-19 where many people were depressed and just trying to keep afloat.
“I teamed up with Fuzzy L and Dhadza D, who also feel strongly that something has to be done to fight substance abuse,” she said.
The former Mafriq member believes the song will help many people fighting drug abuse.
“The song is spearheading a campaign that we have committed to, called #Takabuka.
“It is an awareness campaign as well as a platform for helping people who need assistance with any regard to substance abuse.
“The video is playing on all television networks in commemoration of Mental Health Month.
“We intend to take a further step by taking the campaign onto social media and also engaging the community through live shows.”
Pauline said she has been recovering from drug abuse.
“It takes a reasonable amount of time to be out of the woods but I have been rehabilitating for some time now and I feel great and have a new perspective on life.
“Interestingly, I think what helped me is that while we were doing our research for the campaigns, I had access to mental healthcare institutions, services, and rehabilitation centres, which offered me a lot of support and information that I have been applying successfully.
“To the artists, what I say is that nobody is a lost cause and people can change.”
She said a number of women were trapped in the quagmire.
“Sadly, a lot more women are abusing substances. It is very alarming because women tend to become very vulnerable when intoxicated and the dangers around them are amplified.
“Culturally, men were the ones seen laughing off life’s burdens by drinking and spending time in bars but with urbanisation, you tend to find more women in such social spaces doing the same.
“There are a lot of issues women are carrying and perhaps failing to deal with and so some might try to find escape through taking substances and living a wild life.
“We want to push on different aspects to our various audiences and also show artists as being involved and united together against substance abuse.”
Dhadza D also showed his determination to fight drugs.
“I am so honoured to be part of a huge project, you know me from the ghetto so it really hurts me when l see most of the ghetto youths getting wasted with the substances and drugs.
“I am not gonna stop advocating against substance and drug abuse l have been doing it way before this project and l will continue until we get better results.”
While Fuzzy said there is a need for a collective fight.
“As a nation we have a mandate to come together and fight the continuing increase in the cases of drug, alcohol and substance abuse.
“There are many ways of killing an economy of a country and drug addiction is an attack on our future.
“It is destroying the brains, future leaders of Zimbabwe and this is a form of warfare. How are these drugs getting into the country?
“I also want the youths to understand that change starts with you realising that it’s for your benefit. “We can take you to rehab but if you yourself don’t want to be a better person and put in the effort we are just wasting money, time and resources.”