admin
OUR sister paper, The Herald, early this week reported that police were pushing for mandatory jail term for drug offenders.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said in a bid to curb the drug and substance abuse scourge, Zimbabwe has established National Elimination Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse (NECDSA), mandated to come up with systematic and sustainable responses that will assist in ensuring that society was free of drug and substance abuse.
He said police were pushing for an amendment of the law to have a jail term imposed on all illegal drug and substance dealers without an option of a fine as part of deterrent measures to deal with the scourge in the country.
This comes as police have arrested 5 364 people from January to end of March this year, with 4 962, generally the users holding small quantities rather than the dealers, being released after paying deposit fines. Minister Kazembe Kazembe spoke of the police pressure, when answering questions in the National Assembly last week.
“This office recommends custodial sentences in all issues to do with drug and substance abuse as a deterrent to end the scourge. However, our recommendations have been referred to the Attorney-General’s Office, who has the duty to draft amendments to the existing laws. Recommendations by this office for amendment of all the existing laws to deal with drug and substance abuse are being worked on by the policy and legal pillar to the National Elimination Committee on drug and substance abuse,” he was quoted as saying.
The move by the police is noble, as it will deter would be offenders. There is a need, however, for all stakeholders to support the police in their work to fight drug and substance abuse. It is also the duty of every member of the community to fight this scourge, as it destroys the future of the youth.
“Young people who persistently abuse substances often experience an array of problems, including academic difficulties, health-related problems (including mental health), poor peer relationships and involvement with the juvenile justice system. Additionally, there are consequences for family members, the community, and the entire society . . . There is an undeniable link between substance abuse and delinquency.
Arrest, adjudication and intervention by the juvenile justice system are eventual consequences for many youths engaged in alcohol and other drug use. It cannot be claimed that substance abuse causes delinquent behaviour or delinquency causes alcohol and other drug use.
However, the two behaviours are strongly correlated and often bring about school and family problems, involvement with negative peer groups, a lack of neighbourhood social controls, and physical or sexual abuse (Hawkins et al, 1987; Wilson and Howell,1993),” says an online blogger.
Online Reporter