Weekend Revelry, Hidden Risk: How Drugs and Party Culture Are Driving New HIV Infections Among Zimbabwe’s Youth

Drug and party culture among Zimbabwe’s youth is driving risky sexual behaviour and new HIV infections (image source)

It is a Saturday night, and the easterly wind drifts gently across a popular outdoor leisure centre, carrying the smoky aroma of a braai and the pulse of Zimdancehall blasting from oversized speakers. Teenagers and young adults laugh, dance and toast ciders and whisky, wrapped in the carefree energy of youth and weekend freedom. But beneath the music, movement and celebration lies a more troubling reality. Across Zimbabwe’s leisure spaces, from growth points to high-density suburbs, party culture is increasingly intersecting with drug abuse, unprotected sex and heightened vulnerability to HIV infection, particularly among young people aged 15 to 24.

The concern was raised sharply by the National Aids Council (NAC) during a recent media briefing ahead of a media tour covering Makoni, Chipinge and Chimanimani districts. NAC Manicaland provincial manager Artwell Shiridzinomwa warned that substance abuse and delinquency have become major drivers of new HIV infections among Zimbabwean youth, threatening to reverse years of public-health progress. “Although we have observed a reduction in new HIV infections nationally, the reality is that young people remain disproportionately affected,” he said. “Drug and substance abuse have become key risk factors, as they impair judgment and lead to risky sexual behaviours such as unprotected sex and having multiple partners.”

According to Shiridzinomwa, intoxicants ranging from alcohol to illicit drugs erode decision-making capacity, creating a dangerous convergence of pleasure-seeking, peer pressure and poor risk assessment. “We want to ensure that people do not indulge in behaviours that promote new infections,” he said. “Young people must take full responsibility for their health. Your health is your own personal responsibility.”

Health ministry statistics underscore the scale of the challenge. Of the estimated 1.3 million people living with HIV in Zimbabwe, the highest incidence of new infections is now concentrated in the 15–24 age group, making youth the most vulnerable demographic. While Zimbabwe has earned international recognition for scaling up antiretroviral therapy (ART) and moving toward epidemic control, officials warn that behavioural risks linked to drugs and alcohol could undermine those achievements.

“If young people indulge in these risk behaviours without caution, we risk reversing the progress we have achieved,” Shiridzinomwa cautioned. He stressed the need for intensified education campaigns that promote responsible health choices and address the social contexts in which risky behaviour occurs. NAC says its response must be multi-faceted, combining prevention education, community outreach and substance-abuse support. “Our interventions include comprehensive HIV-prevention education, community programmes and support systems aimed at reducing substance dependency,” he said. “Information dissemination is crucial—knowledge empowers young people to avoid risky situations.”

Zimbabwe’s response is supported by international partners including Unicef, the Global Fund, USAid and PEPFAR. Programmes integrate HIV prevention with adolescent development through condom distribution, voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and youth-friendly health services. Public-health experts emphasise that sustained community engagement is essential, arguing that tackling drug abuse is not only about reducing HIV transmission but about shaping healthier lifestyles and futures.

As weekend parties continue across the country, the challenge remains ensuring that celebration does not come at the cost of a generation’s health.