Zambian actor Owas Mwape breaks a taboo: ‘My son is a drug addict, please help’

One of Zambia’s hottest actors and filmmakers Owas Mwape broke a social taboo by admitting that considered one of his younger sons has an habit to medication when he posted a current enchantment for recommendation on Facebook.

The 52-year-old advised the BBC he wished to make use of his standing as a public determine to open the lid on Zambia’s drug issues and assist different mother and father who concern the stigma of getting a baby with substance abuse in a socially conservative nation.

“I’ve discovered most parents hide such kind of things, they’re hiding their children,” stated Mwape, the daddy of 5 sons and one daughter.

“It’s out there and on our doorsteps. We can’t run away from it. As long as you send your children to school, know that it could hit your household.”

The star of award-winning movies like Mwansa the Great agreed to sit down right down to do an in-depth interview with the BBC to debate the acute ache he feels as a mother or father and the issue that has clearly shattered his household during the last 4 to 5 years.

Mayamiko, now 23, was a teen when issues started to unravel.

First his dad seen that cash was lacking from his checking account – Mayamiko had hacked his cellphone to steal about $3,000 (£2,300) over about two years. Then there was some petty thieving.

Initially it was not clear that he was utilizing the cash for medication, however issues got here to a head a couple of minutes earlier than he was as a consequence of write final-year college exams – and he ran away from house to reside on the streets.

It all clearly shocked and pained Mwape who couldn’t consider the boy he described as sparky and beneficiant may have gone down this path, saying his entire manner modifications when he is on medication.

“It’s a very difficult thing to be a father in the moment that I have found myself in. It’s tough because every child is special and Maya is one of those special kids because he is intelligent,” he says.

But he says you need to forgive your kids to assist them, turning to an African proverb to specific himself: “Your child is like an axe, it will hammer you and you pick it up and put it on your shoulder.”

Mayamiko is now again in contact together with his father, however it’s all the time on his phrases as he makes use of completely different cellphone numbers, making it tough to contact him.

But it has given his father hope that issues can change – although he realises that for any rehab to work, Mayamiko must need to change.

When we met for our interview, Mwape had managed to coax Mayamiko to come back alongside too. It was a frank dialog that at one stage was a transferring dialogue between father and son.

“Maya, if we found you work to do and you start getting paid, are you going to work extra hard?” Mwape requested him practically an hour into our session.

Mayamiko, whose speech was considerably incoherent and punctuated by lengthy pauses, admitted he would really like some assist to alter his life-style and have the ability to earn cash.

His dad adopted up with this query: “Are you promising us that you will stay away from drugs?”

Mayamiko hesitated and stated: “Yeah.”

For his father it was a reduction to listen to that he has aspirations – it’s one thing that he can construct on.

But probably the most irritating factor for Mwape is that his second-oldest son is rarely specific about what medication he’s taking, how he will get maintain of them – and infrequently obfuscates when requested a query.

“When you’re trying to speak to him, you can tell that things are not adding up, so that’s why for me I really need that sort of… intervention.”

When probed extra in the course of the interview concerning the medication, Mayamiko stated he largely took “cheese” – a reference to marijuana – or “anything”.

That is why Mwape, who’s at the moment starring in common Zambian cleaning soap opera Zuba that airs on DStv, took to Facebook, as a result of he wished to find out about rehab centres which have confirmed examples of success – tales not broadly shared in a rustic the place drug habit is such a hush-hush affair.

There are a number of non-public amenities in Zambia – however no publicly funded one – and he says some individuals have even reportedly despatched their kids to China.

“I couldn’t believe [it], there were a number of parents who came into my inbox with similar problems,” he stated.

Mwape’s expertise has additionally influenced the movies his firm has just lately produced – with subject material thought of to be “un-Zambian”.

“Girls 2 Ladies is about drugs in boarding schools,” he stated.

“I’m not saying boarding schools are not good, but I think it’s important as parents now that we put a keen eye to try to find out what type of schools we’re sending our children to, [which is] one of my greatest fears even with what type of rehabilitation centre I should send him [Mayamiko] to.”

His oldest son, Maxwell, has simply directed The Flask, a hard-hitting account of an alcoholic’s downward spiral into habit that might be launched subsequent month.

Researching all these initiatives has led Mwape to the door of Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) – headed by Nason Banda, whom he praises for his enlightened management that favours interventions for children moderately than jail – which many mother and father concern.

“Sending them to prison doesn’t help because there are still drugs in there,” Mwape stated.

According to Mr Banda, drug abuse in Zambia is worsening, with a few of the most abused medication being hashish, cocaine, heroin and over-the-counter medicines such because the cough syrup Benylin, which accommodates codeine.

He advised the BBC there had been a 300% improve within the variety of individuals his organisation had attended to over the previous 10 years.

“Now that is just as DEC but we have several other institutions that assist with drug-dependent persons, so that is not the full reflection of the extent of the problem.”

The head of the nation’s anti-drug company stated the principle drivers of drug abuse had been damaged households plus the accessibility and affordability of medication.

Peer stress and the glamourising of drug tradition by adults had additionally contributed, he stated.

The DEC was dedicated to preventing drug abuse by focusing on suppliers, customers and proceeds of the commerce, Mr Banda stated, including that he additionally wished the federal government to launch a devoted rehab centre if the cash was accessible.

For Mwape, he hopes his openness about his son’s issues won’t solely assist his circle of relatives however others too – and cease the nation residing in denial.

And whereas he admits the ache of a mother or father by no means leaves, he feels he’ll succeed – and that Mayamiko will get clear.

“Sometimes, battles are never won by simply getting into battle – battles are won by employing strategy and I know that all strategies that I have employed are definitely taking me to the right place.”