Crystal Meth Drug Abuse Survivor Recounts Horrors
Tamar Mundirwira (20), who is recovering from her addiction to crystal meth (mutoriro) at a local rehabilitation centre in Harare, has expressed her determination to be free.
She has been a hostage to the illicit drug known as mutoriro, dombo, buwe or guka makafela in street lingo, for four years.
Tamar narrated to The NewsHawks how she felt like abandoning detoxification in the first week due to insatiable cravings for the drug. She said:
I used to feel strong and had cravings during my first days here. I felt like escaping but not anymore. I told myself that change begins with me. What I want is to change for myself
… They have given me six weeks here, but I feel like I have detoxed successfully because I was already off mutoriro for two weeks before I came here. I am begging them with my life because this will end up affecting me.
According to narcotic experts, about six out of 10 patients admitted to mental institutions suffer drug-related issues. But Tamar insists she wants her freedom back. She said:
I want to change for myself. This drug is destroying my brain cells, I literally become just like a zombie.
I want to change for my country and women, those girls who are being abused in those drug houses.
I would not want to be back here anymore. The only time you will find me back here, I will be helping people.
She said she got hooked to other drugs and eventually crystal meth after she left home at the tender age of 16.
She moved and stayed with a friend in Chitungwiza after her mother re-married.
Her friend, a drug user, introduced Tamar to all forms of illicit drugs like mbanje, codeine (ngoma) and other narcotics. Said, Tamar:
Sometimes, I would be given a fix and get raped afterwards or gang-raped. My friend was also gang-raped. It is painful, this must stop and should not continue anymore.
These drug lords are using young girls to attract customers, but most of them end up being abused sexually and do not get anything out of it.
It is high time we stop this. Someone was stabbed 15 times while I watched in my house.
At some point, they were using my house as a drug house. Because of a mutoriro (crystal meth) straw, someone was stabbed 15 times.The person is wanted by the police and could not report. He survived, but it was the toughest thing I have faced in life. I still have nasty flashbacks.
She remains grateful to a local non-governmental organisation, Mubatirapamwe, for showing her a new path.
An articulate and intelligent young woman, Tamar dreams of becoming a lawyer one day but first, she must walk a long and arduous journey to recovery.
