Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
Beitbridge District has taken a leading role in the national fight against drug and substance abuse, with authorities stepping up multi-sectoral interventions to curb trafficking and consumption in the border town.
The district is particularly vulnerable due to its location along the North-South Corridor. Security agencies say the area is used by syndicates as a transit point for drugs, unregistered medicines and other illicit substances destined for various parts of the country and the region.
The district’s response was under the spotlight this week when a team from the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Matabeleland South, visited on Thursday to assess the functionality of the District Drug and Substance Abuse Committee, which was activated last year.
Acting Director for Coordination in the Minister of State’s office, Ms Sikhangezile Ndlovu, said she was impressed by the district’s coordinated approach.
“Today we visited Beitbridge District for the purpose of assessing the functionality of the drug and substance abuse committee, which was activated sometime last year,” she said.
“We wanted to see how it is doing, Beitbridge being an enthusiastic district in patrolling our border and with most of the drug and substance abuse activities reported.
“We had a successful meeting. We got reports from the different pillars. This committee is really doing well. All the pillars are working hand in glove. More activities are being done to try and reduce this scourge.”
Ms Ndlovu said interventions by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, which include vocational skills training, poultry projects and linkages with EmpowerBank, were providing alternative livelihoods for at-risk youths.
She said the team was particularly encouraged by testimony from a drug abuse survivor, Tinashe Saunyama (21), who has since been assisted to start a project and is now self-reliant.
“He was into drugs; now the district helped him. He is now doing a project to support himself, and he does not want to go back to abusing drugs,” she said.
However, she said the resource mobilisation pillar needs strengthening through a whole-of-Government and community approach to fund fuel and outreach to all wards for awareness campaigns.
Giving a report on the Demand Reduction Pillar, chairperson Mr Stanley Moyo said various youth programmes have been implemented since January 2026, including vocational training, entrepreneurship, Youth Service in Zimbabwe, and awareness campaigns.
He said five youths have accessed EmpowerBank funding, while 30 youths were trained in Green Jobs, 60 in digital skills, 310 in financial literacy in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and 30 on climate change.
“The Ministry is also set to partner with Save the Children International on green jobs. A total of 334 youths were enrolled in vocational centres, including Beitbridge VTC (26), Lutumba VTC (88), Far North (30), Teez Academy (12) and Young Africa Zimbabwe (178),” said Mr Moyo.
“At least 136 youths have undergone Youth Service in Zimbabwe training at Dadaya, Vumba, Guyu and Mashayamombe, while two youth innovation hubs have been established with support from ZRBF and Young Africa Zimbabwe.
“In schools, 19 secondary schools and all primary schools were reached with drug awareness campaigns led by junior councillors and junior parliamentarians. Young Africa Zimbabwe (YAZ), which is implementing the Skills for Youth Resilience Programme after the Skills2Live-KNB project with IOM, said 430 vulnerable youths, including migrants, sex workers, young mothers and drug abuse survivors, were enrolled.
“A total of 401 graduated in February in 11 trades, including baking, beauty therapy, welding, food preparation, hairdressing and solar technology.”
He said according to Young Africa Zimbabwe (YAZ), 64 percent of the tracked graduates are economically active, with average earnings of R1 580 up to R10 000 per month and US$143 up to US$600, a development that reduces idleness and exposure to drugs.
Chairperson of the Harm Reduction Pillar, Dr Lenos Samhere, said that since January, Beitbridge District Hospital has recorded 47 cases, 13 linked to alcohol abuse and the rest to other drugs.
“Thirty-two were admitted and managed; two in worse condition were referred to Ngomahuru and Ingutsheni,” he said
“Twenty-five percent were alcohol-related, 72 percent other substances and 68 percent required admission.”
He said challenges include patients giving wrong addresses, relapsing, absconding from treatment and under-reporting due to stigma.
For the Community Reintegration Pillar, chairperson Ms Sithembiso Nhanga of the Department of Social Development said they conducted individual and family counselling and home visits.
She said of the eight cases referred from the provincial hospital, one died, three gave wrong addresses, and four were seen.
“Awareness in schools reached 12 schools, with 7 126 people reached against a target of 5 000,” said Ms Nhanga.
The Information and Media Pillar, led by Miss Hazel Vundla, said all media houses, including community radio station Lotsha FM, have been enlisted to raise awareness at every gathering, including NASSAF, PASSAF and the Tshitaudze Heritage Festival held at Mpande, which reached over 1 900 people.
