Maizon Leads Fight Against Drug Abuse in Friday Concert

HARARE- AfroJazz musician,Maizon of the Ancient Tribes, will host an Africa Month Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Concert on Friday in this capital.
The concert seeks to mobilize stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, the private sector, and local communities to take coordinated action against the growing challenge of drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe.
A key objective of the initiative is to shift the conversation from stigma to understanding by addressing the root causes of substance abuse, including unemployment, mental health challenges, family breakdowns, and peer pressure, ensuring that no one is left behind in the attainment of Vision 2030.
Born Maizon Tazvitya, the artist began his artistic journey as a mentee of the Children’s Performing Arts Workshop (CHIPAWO), one of Zimbabwe’s leading arts development institutions. His talent later saw him being invited as a backing vocalist for the late music icon Oliver Mtukudzi, whose socially conscious music profoundly influenced Maizon’s approach to using the arts as a vehicle for social transformation and community engagement.
Institutions such as the Harare Institute of Technology and the University of Zimbabwe, which have partnered with the Ancient Tribes band on monthly anti-drug campaigns led by Maizon Tazvitya, are expected to participate in the event to strengthen outreach to students, who remain particularly vulnerable to substance abuse.
Universities play a critical role in information dissemination, research, innovation, and student mentorship, making them key partners in sustaining long-term behavioral change and prevention efforts.
The event will also feature organizations working directly with survivors and rehabilitation services, including the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society, which operates drug testing and rehabilitation facilities in Harare; Restore Life, a centre that has provided psycho-education, prevention, and post-rehabilitation support to more than 2,000 young people since 2022; the Angel of Hope Foundation, which collaborates with government to provide vocational skills training for recovering youth; and the Drug-Free Livelihoods Centre under the Ministry of Health and Child Care, which offers vocational training and reintegration support through eight centres nationwide.
Through live Afro Jazz performances and facilitated dialogues, the concert will disseminate accurate information on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration pathways for affected individuals and families.
Maizon Tazvitya’s background in social sciences continues to inform his use of artistic platforms to address pressing social and public health issues, including drug abuse, gender-based violence, breast cancer awareness, and youth empowerment.
“Expected outcomes from the concert include increased public awareness on the dangers of drug and substance abuse, stronger referral linkages to counseling and rehabilitation services, and greater youth participation in peer-led prevention programs,”he said.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen partnerships among cultural practitioners, health professionals, academic institutions, policymakers, and civil society organizations in sustaining evidence-based messaging beyond the event itself.
“These outcomes align directly with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 under the Health and Well-being, Human Capital Development, and Youth, Sport and Culture pillars, which prioritize reducing substance abuse and improving community resilience,” Tazvitya added.
By integrating arts, education, and stakeholder engagement, the initiative complements government efforts under the National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse and the Multi-Sectoral Action Plan launched in 2024.
The involvement of rehabilitation centres and survivor support organizations ensures that communities receive practical, actionable information, reinforcing the message that the fight against substance abuse is everyone’s responsibility.
The concert seeks to contribute toward building a healthier, more productive population capable of driving Zimbabwe’s socio-economic transformation toward upper middle-income status by 2030.