Bulawayo Teenagers Turn Kombis Into Mobile ‘Vuzu Parties’ to Evade Authorities, NAC Warns

BULAWAYO – Teenagers involved in Bulawayo's notorious "Vuzu" party culture are increasingly abandoning traditional house parties and adopting mobile gatherings in hired kombis as they seek to evade detection by parents, guardians, and law enforcement agencies. The National AIDS Council (NAC) has warned that the new trend, known among young people as "mjeje," is becoming a growing public health and child protection concern, with reports that alcohol, drugs, and risky sexual behaviour are taking place inside moving vehicles.

Vuzu parties have long been associated with underage drinking, substance abuse, and unsafe sexual practices among teenagers, drawing concern from health officials, educators, parents, and law enforcement authorities. However, NAC says intensified efforts to crack down on traditional house-based gatherings have prompted organisers to change tactics.

Speaking during a youth engagement programme at Isilwane Youth Centre in Old Pumula, Bulawayo, NAC Programmes Officer Douglas Moyo said authorities have made significant progress in disrupting conventional Vuzu parties through coordinated action involving multiple government departments and security agencies.

"As a community of Bulawayo, we now have new strategies through a multi-sectoral committee at the provincial level involving security agencies, where we have come up with measures to deal with Vuzu parties. The teenagers know that," said Moyo.

He explained that young people are now hiring commuter omnibuses and using them as mobile party venues.

"What they have since done is transform the Vuzu party into something different. They hire a kombi, get in with their girlfriends, alcohol, and other substances, then simply drive around with no destination," he said.

According to NAC, the mobile nature of the gatherings makes them significantly more difficult to identify and disrupt than traditional house parties, which often attracted attention through loud music and large crowds.

Health officials fear the trend may expose young people to increased risks, including alcohol abuse, drug use, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV infection, and road safety dangers.

"Along the way, anything can happen inside that kombi. They are drinking, smoking, and engaging in sexual activities while moving around. The famous Vuzu parties are no longer there. If you go looking for houses with loud music in the suburbs, you may not find them," Moyo said.

The phenomenon has raised concern among organisations working in HIV prevention and adolescent health, particularly given the longstanding association between Vuzu parties and unprotected sexual activity. Previous reports linked such gatherings to situations where teenagers engaged in multiple sexual encounters, often without adequate protection, increasing vulnerability to HIV, STIs, and unintended pregnancies.

In response to the emerging trend, NAC says it has engaged law enforcement agencies, including traffic police and criminal investigation officers, to monitor suspicious vehicles believed to be involved in the gatherings.

"That's another version that we still need to deal with. We have engaged traffic police and CID officers to be on the lookout for these kombis. Most of them have tinted windows and are well-decorated and attractive-looking vehicles. They thought we didn't know, but we know," said Moyo.

Authorities believe increased community awareness, parental involvement, and coordinated enforcement efforts will be critical in addressing the evolving challenge.

Child welfare advocates say the development highlights the need for broader conversations around youth recreation, substance abuse prevention, and sexual health education. As authorities adapt to changing patterns of behaviour among teenagers, NAC has urged parents, schools, churches, and community leaders to remain vigilant and actively engage young people on issues affecting their well-being. The organisation says addressing the root causes behind substance abuse and risky behaviour remains essential if communities are to effectively combat the problem and protect vulnerable youths from harm.

Bulawayo Vuzu parties