Bulawayo is counting down to a community driven sporting and mental health campaign aimed at confronting one of the challenges increasingly affecting young people drug and substance abuse.

The initiative will take place on 15 August 2026 at Emakhandeni Sports Ground, running from 7am to 9am under the theme “Mental Health Campaign Against Drug and Substance Abuse.”

The event seeks to use sport and community participation as a platform for raising awareness about the dangers associated with substance abuse while encouraging young people to make healthier choices.

Rather than focusing only on the consequences of drug abuse, the campaign brings together sport, mental health awareness and community engagement in an effort to create positive spaces where young people can connect, participate and find encouragement.

The choice of Emakhandeni Sports Ground also places the campaign within the community, making the event accessible to residents and young people who are at the heart of the initiative.

The organisers have encouraged members of the public to attend the event.

“This is for the public and it is the fight organised by the public and the well being of the public,” said the organisers .

“Those who are taking part as participates they had the opportunity of clicking our campaign poster which was carrying a registration QR code,”they said.

The event is also set to attract support from a range of organisations and businesses, highlighting the importance of partnerships in tackling social challenges that cannot be addressed by one group alone.