Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
A TOTAL of 284 people were arrested in Gwanda District for drug and substance abuse-related cases during the third quarter of the year as authorities intensified efforts to combat the scourge and dismantle drug distribution networks.
According to the district’s third-quarter report on drug and substance abuse, presented during a recent meeting, 12,87kg of dagga and 40g of methamphetamine were recovered during the period under review.
Police also conducted 503 stop-and-search operations during patrols, recovering prescription medicines, unregistered medicines, skin-lightening creams and unapproved complementary medicines with a combined street value of US$6 500.
A total of 34 awareness campaigns were conducted across the district at churches, schools, business centres, villages, public gatherings, as well as private and Government institutions.
About 14 000 people across different age groups were reached through the campaigns.
The report said Government had intensified law enforcement efforts under the supply-reduction pillar to disrupt drug supply chains and bring perpetrators to justice.
“The report reflects the collective efforts of Government departments, law enforcement agencies health institutions, communitv leaders, development partners and other stakeholders working together under the national drug and substance abuse framework. During the reporting period, Gwanda district implemented interventions across the key pillars of demand reduction, supply reduction treatment and rehabilitation community reintegration, media and communication.
“Community campaigns targeted general public, parents and out-of-school youths educating them on the dangers of drugs abuse. Sports galas were used as entry point to attract at-risk youths, combining soccer/netball with awareness talks,” reads the report.
Addressing stakeholders during the meeting, which was part of a drug and substance abuse monitoring exercise, Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Permanent Secretary Mrs Lathiso Dlamini-Maseko said drug and substance abuse had become a major public health, social and national security concern in Zimbabwe, particularly among young people.
She said the problem had contributed to health complications, family breakdowns, crime and reduced productivity, prompting Government to strengthen national efforts to prevent substance abuse and support affected individuals.
Mrs Dlamini-Maseko said her office had embarked on a monitoring exercise across all seven districts in the province to assess the operations of district drug and substance abuse committees.
President Mnangagwa launched the Zimbabwe Multi-Sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan (2024-2030) on 26 June 2024 to strengthen the national response to the scourge.
In July 2025, he also launched the National Drug and Substance Response Resource Mobilisation Programme to raise funds for the fight against drug and substance abuse. In August 2025, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe launched the provincial resource mobilisation programme.
Mrs Dlamini-Maseko said district taskforces should coordinate stakeholders and ensure that interventions produced measurable results.
“The district drug and substance abuse taskforce should function as the coordinating mechanism that brings all relevant stakeholders together to implement all district programmes. The ultimate success of this programme will be measured by the mitigation strategies applied by the district such as whether fewer people initiate harmful substance use, affected individuals receive appropriate assistance, communities become safer and recovering people can rebuild their lives.
“We need districts to have functional committees with clear responsibilities and reporting lines. There is need for targeted interventions in schools, communities and high-risk settings. We also need coordinated, lawful enforcement and disruption of drug supply networks,” she said.
Mrs Dlamini-Maseko said Government was combining law enforcement with rehabilitation and community support systems. She said rehabilitation efforts were already underway, with people recovering from substance abuse being integrated into skills training programmes.
She said efforts were also underway to ensure that Matabeleland South had a fully operational provincial rehabilitation centre.
The TB Centre in Gwanda Urban is being renovated for conversion into a rehabilitation facility.
Provinces were tasked with developing strategies, including resource mobilisation, to support the fight against drug and substance abuse following the national call to action by President Mnangagwa, who launched the National Drug and Substance Response Resource Mobilisation Programme in Harare on 11 July 2025.
Other interventions in Gwanda include awareness campaigns, police patrols, community empowerment projects and sporting activities.
Government has established a National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse guided by a multi-pillar framework covering supply reduction, demand reduction, harm reduction, treatment and rehabilitation, legal frameworks, community reintegration and media and communication strategies.
—@DubeMatutu
