HARARE – Police have opened an investigation into allegations of drug abuse among learners at top Harare girls school, Dominican Convent High School leading to the shock expulsion of eight students Thursday.
The senior students, who were not named, were allegedly found with some illicit substance stashed in their belongings during a school trip to Nyanga earlier this month.
On Thursday, school head Sister Kudzai Mutsure indicated that more students could be expelled from the upmarket school if implicated in the scandal by an ongoing internal investigation.
Following the incident, police descended on the school Friday morning reportedly to conduct their own investigations.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that investigations were underway.
“The school has openly communicated to the whole world that they have expelled eight students in relation to drug abuse cases. Surely, the police have to move in and conduct investigations,” Nyathi said.
“Police officers had gone to the school because from the onset, the school authorities I am told they were not cooperating.
“We are conducting investigations, not only at the school, even where the students are coming from, where they stay, even their associates and peers.
“We really want to find out what is happening.”
Zimbabwe is experiencing an upsurge in drug abuse cases and most of those abusing the drugs are young people.
The youths are turning to hard drugs such as heroin, cocaine and crystal methamphetamine.
According to the government, at least 57.1 percent of Zimbabwe’s youths are taking these illicit drugs and substances.
