Rutendo Mazhindu

Vaping—possibly dismissed by many Zimbabwean parents as a harmless “teen trend”—is slipping deeper into school corridors, bathrooms, and social media feeds.

As authorities continue to battle drug abuse among young people, e-cigarettes have quietly entered the picture, marketed as the lesser evil compared to Broncleer, crystal meth, mutoriro, or alcohol.

But health experts say this belief is dangerously misleading.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that vaping is hooking a new generation on nicotine before they even turn 16. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said nearly 15 million adolescents globally are now using e-cigarettes—with teenage vaping rates nine times higher than among adults in the 63 countries with available data.

What worries him most is how the industry deliberately targets children through bright colors, sweet flavors, and social media influencers.

Although e-cigarettes are advertised as safer alternatives, WHO says there is no evidence of any net public-health benefit, but mounting evidence of the harm—from chemicals that affect developing brains to the creation of long-term nicotine dependency.

And schools are now the frontline of this quiet crisis. Dr. Tedros shared that a school attended by his own children recently detected vaping among 13- and 14-year-olds—a pattern mirrored across several Zimbabwean schools.

Local educators say vaping is arriving on top of an already worrying landscape of substance abuse in schools—from cigarettes to weed to codeine-based syrups.

A Harare high school headmaster who requested anonymity told ZNyaya:

“We’ve confiscated vapes that look like highlighters. You can’t tell the difference unless you’re looking closely. Kids think vaping doesn’t count as drugs.”

Some schools report that students now see cigarettes as the “less harmful” option—a dangerous shift that health experts say plays directly into addiction pathways. Once the nicotine hook is set, teens are more likely to graduate to smoking and, in some cases, other substances.

Roosevelt Girls High teacher Mr. Marara said schools now need stronger guidance frameworks:

“Students are sneaking away to vape. We need discipline, but also honest talks about the real risks. Education and consequences must go together.”

The Nemours Foundation warns that even vapes marketed as “nicotine-free” often contain nicotine—and some include marijuana oils, herbs, or illicit additives, blurring the line between innocent experimentation and drug misuse.

Long-term risks include addiction, anxiety, depression, memory problems, and worsened concentration—issues teachers say they are already noticing in classrooms.

At the household level, parents say the trend is creeping into daily life. Albert Chibuwe believes the fight cannot be left to schools alone. Daisy Nyaradzo Muzopa said open, judgement-free conversations are essential: “Teens want honesty, not shouting. If parents don’t talk about it, TikTok will.”

For some children, the behavior is learned at home. Kudzai Makiwa noted, “Some parents vape themselves, so it looks harmless. Kids copy what they see.”

Zimbabwe’s Health Burden Is Already Heavy—Vaping Could Make It Worse

Zimbabwe is already grappling with rising cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses.
Nicotine addiction—especially starting early—increases these risks.

Doctors warn that early exposure to nicotine and aerosol chemicals may fuel the long-term growth of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which already account for over 30 percent of deaths in Zimbabwe.

Public health specialists fear vaping could reverse years of progress in tobacco reduction and add pressure to a health system already battling hypertension, diabetes, and cancer.

Dr. Tedros urged countries to regulate e-cigarettes as strictly as traditional tobacco—limiting flavors, packaging, marketing, and sales. He also called for accessible nicotine-cessation support for young people.

For Zimbabwe, the warning comes at a critical time: with schools fighting both open drug abuse and subtle nicotine trends, vaping may be the quietest but most strategic threat.

“If we ignore this because vapes look harmless, we risk raising a generation hooked before adulthood,” one health expert told ZNyaya.

The crisis is already here—only disguised in bright colors, sweet flavors, and harmless-smelling clouds.