Parents Seek The Removal Of Cigarette Billboard Just Outside Mpopoma High School
Parents of learners at Mpopoma High School in Bulawayo are collecting signatures in an effort to petition authorities to remove a billboard that was erected just outside the learning institution advertising cigarettes.
The billboard, erected at beginning of this month, promotes the Pacific Cigarette brand, the Chronicle reports.
A blogger, Mr Michael Mbele who initiated the plan to petition Government and council to remove the billboard said he is concerned that the billboard could influence children to smoke. He said:
I am seriously concerned about Mpopoma High students because that Pacific billboard will have devastating effects on them.
Mr Allan Moyo who has a son who learns at Mpopoma High School said the billboard sends a wrong message as some pupils are already suffering from drug abuse.
He said it will be difficult for pupils to be advised against substance abuse when they are exposed to such a billboard.
Moyo said he hopes that something positive will come out of their petition.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro told the Chronicle that there is nothing wrong with the advert as long as it carries a message that says ‘smoking is harmful to your health’ as it teaches children that they must not smoke.
