‘Three some’ and substance abuse among street children of the Harare Central Business District, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Ostensibly, there is dearth of academic studies that examine the intricate relationship between substance abuse and three some among street children of the Harare Central Business District, Zimbabwe. Therefore, the paper interrogates the complex relationship between three some and substance abuse among street children of the Harare Central Business District, Zimbabwe. The qualitative research methodology punctuated by street ethnography approach was used to generate data for this paper. Research findings suggest that the relationship between substance abuse and three some among children in street situations is multi-dimensional. The child rights, child agency and ubuntu or unhu perspectives were used to analyse this multi-dimensional nature of a relationship. The children in street situations demonstrate their agency when they engage in substance abuse and group sex. Through three some and abusing substances some of the children are able to coping with their situations. However, such behaviours are considered as ambiguous of agency as they clash with moral and societal values. They are also seen as self-destructive agency because of the risks associated with the behaviours. Drawing from the ubuntu and or unhu perspective, three some and abusing substances among street children of Harare Central Business District articulates moral decadence among these children. The three some and abusing substance among children in street situations demonstrate huge child rights violations prevalent on the streets of the Harare Central Business District. The study concludes by lobbying and advocating for full implementation of child rights laws, policies and programmes specifically targeting street children so as to reduce risks associated with three some and abuse of substances among these children.