His lived experience!
MEET ‘Bobby Kabhuru’, a man who earned his nickname from his childhood antisocial behaviour where despite his small body stature, he was a bully of note in the family and community at large. As the eldest son in a family of eight, Bobby was under intense scrutiny, with all eyes fixed on him. However, despite his position, he struggled with feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness, and being unwanted.
His father, an ardent disciplinarian, somehow perpetuated these feelings as he openly criticized at every turn after being put off by his anti-social behaviour. As a result, Bobby developed low self-esteem, and fear began to play a dominant role in his life. At school, he found it difficult to mix with his peers and resultantly became a loner.
One fateful day, while at home, Bobby succumbed to curiosity and decided to try the beer in the fridge. What followed was a downward spiral into addiction, as he became hooked on the fleeting sense of confidence and invincibility that the so-called ‘wise waters’ provided.
"It all started with one drink, and the intoxication made me feel omnipotent, confident, and like I was on top of the world," he recalled.
In 2013, Bobby enrolled in college, where peer pressure from friends introduced him to new vices. His friends encouraged him to try marijuana, and soon he was experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Before long, he progressed to using cough syrups and bronchial inhalers, developing a dangerous craving for more.
"As I continued down this path, I felt like I was on autopilot, losing touch with reality," Bobby admitted.
“I was no longer aware of who I was, where I was headed, or what I was doing. I simply existed without purpose or direction."
Bobby's addiction took a perilous turn when he started abusing painkillers, devouring up to 40 tablets at once, combined with bronchial inhalers and other substances, sending him into ecstasy. But even when his parents caught wind of his substance abuse at school and cut him off financially, Bobby couldn't resist the allure of his next fix. He sold everything he owned, from clothes to accessories, until he had nothing left to hock. And still, he craved for more.
In 2020, Bobby went for the jugular - crystal meth. The stimulant's potent effects awakened a "6th sense" within him, unleashing a maelstrom of hallucinations that both terrified and exhilarated him. Entranced by the drug's initial high, Bobby became consumed by an insatiable hunger for more, increasing his dosage with each successive fix. And with each escalation, his addiction deepened, until he found himself irreparably dependent on the substance to feel even a semblance of happiness.
As crystal meth's grip on Bobby tightened, his relationships with others began to fray. He grew isolated, convinced that everyone around him was flawed, and that only he possessed the truth. His world narrowed to a tiny, dark point, illuminated only by the fleeting highs of his addiction.
Bobby's addiction had ravaged his life for 13 long years, leaving him a shell of his former self. Suicidal thoughts haunted him, and his behaviour became increasingly erratic. He suffered from insomnia, walking 22km every day just to earn a meagre living. Despite being fired from numerous jobs, Bobby couldn't shake off the shackles of addiction.
But then, something inside him snapped. He realized that his life had been stagnant for far too long, and he made a decision to seek help. That's when he met Pamumvuri, a turning point in his journey. With their guidance, Bobby discovered positive methods to cope with anxiety and social pressures.
As he began his recovery journey, Bobby found solace in sharing his struggles with others. "A shared problem is half solved," he realized, and soon, he was reunited with a supportive community that helped him heal. Today, Bobby Kabhuru, whose real name is Charlse Tatenda Mako, is a testament to redemption. He's a graphic designer and coach for Mindskillz Program Grassroots Soccer for Adolescents Mental health at Pamumvuri, inspiring others with his story of resilience and hope.
Pamumvuri is a non -profitable entity which aims to promote wellness at individual, family and community levels through public awareness, training, treatment and rehabilitation, entrepreneurship and robust research. The organisation, based in Marlborough, Harare, was founded in January 2022. It has successfully rehabilitated more than 200 drug addicts at government mental health institutions like Parirenyatwa, Harare Central Hospital, and Ingutsheni Hospital.
