Teen sex, drugs flourish at Zomba Botanic Garden
Zomba Botanic Garden on the lush slopes of Zomba plateau is a thrilling postcard destination for people looking for relaxation in a natural setting in the colonial capital.
The gateway to the astonishing K300-per-head green space welcomes people of different ages who pour in for weddings, parties, prayers, and outdoor social events.

However, the youth have reduced the garden to a haven for sex in the bush, alcoholism and drug abuse.
This sorry sight pops to light during weekends and public holidays when some visitors below 18 are seen having sex, drinking local distils and smoking illicit hemp.
“I just wanna have fun,” says a teen girl disguised as Zione, gulping plain gin. “My mother doesn’t know that I drink and smoke. She doesn’t even have any idea that I have a boyfriend. It’s my time to enjoy.”
Such sights of moral decay and risky sex webs worry National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens director-general Dr Zecharia Magombo.
“We ordered that no underage child should be allowed into the garden, but the ban only worked for a few days. These children kept sneaking in after vandalising the barbed wire fence,” he says in disbelief.
Magombo says the State agency’s security workforce cannot use force to expel the compromised minors.
He narrates: “Most of them are high on alcohol and chamba, so chasing them away can stir ugly scenes which may backfire against us.
“Instead, we are engaging the police, child rights organisations, parent-teacher associations [PTAs] and other concerned parties to find the best solution. Otherwise, this issue is beyond us.”
Naison Chibondo, community policing coordinator for Zomba Police Station, is aware of the risky lifestyles that flourish on the eastern hillsides of Zomba Plateau.
“We just see these children passing by our station heading for the Botanic Garden, but we can’t block them without a case or complaint at hand. What will be the justification for our action?” he asks.
The cop asks concerned individuals file a complaint at the nearest police station for quick action.
However, Youth Net and Counselling executive director MacBain Mkandawire says: “The police should grow up and start doing things the law enforcement agency exists for.
“Their response on the matter could be a joke of the century.”
Mkandawire wonders why the police service, with detectives on its payroll, should wait for a complaint to prevent crimes and protect children from self-harm.
“The law recognises any underage as a child of the State, meaning the police are their keepers. So, why should the police wait for someone to complain about the harmful conduct of children under their watch?” he asks.
The child rights campaigner reckons it is wrong for law enforcers to think “it’s not my child, so I don’t care”.
He also faults parents who appear “too busy” to care for their children.
“Parents are the primary protectors of their children, so they should up the game and be part of the solution,” he says.
“My main fear is that the children we are just watching smoking and having unprotected sex today will end up marrying our well-raised son or daughter who will suffer the consequences of this negligence.”
Matiya Primary School PTA chairperson Grace Chiutula Nduli says parents should stop living a lie that their children are angels.
“Many run on rampage once they leave home,” she warns.
The teens on the loose switched to Botanic Garden after being expelled from Gymkhana Golf Club by soldiers from Cobbe Barracks.