THIRTY-NINE high school students from various schools were arrested during a Vuzu party in Bulawayo’s Kumalo suburb on Friday, police confirmed yesterday.
Police said they recovered used c0nd0ms, bottles of whisky and cigarettes at the scene.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they were still conducting further investigations when contacted for comment yesterday.
“We will be able to give an update on Monday (tomorrow),” Nyathi said.
Vuzu parties are generally described as wild parties mostly attended by teenagers where they engage in alcohol consumption, drug and substance abuse as well as s_3xual activities with various partners.
The parties have drawn a lot of worry from parents, law enforcers, local authority and government officials in the city.
A 2019 study said there could be rampant backyard ab0rtions resulting from the Vuzu parties.
The study entitled: “Exploring the practice of Vuzu parties among young people in Bulawayo,” was conducted by Aids Healthcare Foundation in partnership with Grassroots Soccer.
A total of 122 people were interviewed during the study.
Findings of the study showed that absenteeism by parents and guardians often drive the youth to the parties.
“There are also concerns about the future consequences of the heavy drinking and drug abuse at the Vuzu parties,” the study noted.
“One youth respondent noted that his greatest regret of attending the parties was addiction and that some of the girls fell preg_nant during the marathon s3_x escapades forcing them to conduct ab0rtions as they did not even known who was responsible for the preg_nancies.”
At the Vuzu parties, the young people involved give each other prizes for those that have s_3x with the highest number of people.
There are also fears that older people are involved, which experts say could drive HIV infections among young people.
— The Standard
