Online Reporter
Health Reporter
FOLLOWING a sharp rise in drug abuse across Zimbabwe, medical practitioners are urging parents and guardians to get counselling for children using drugs and other harmful substances to ensure holistic healing and long-term recovery.
This plea was made by Professor Nathaniel KudakwaMwari, Director of Doctors on the Move Initiative (Domi), during a counsellor training workshop ahead of a drug awareness campaign to be held in Bulawayo on 15 November 2025.
More than 15 counsellors completed training, equipping them with the skills to provide psychological support, guide withdrawal plans, and administer appropriate medication where necessary.
Prof KudakwaMwari, who is also a lecturer at the University of Muchinga in Zambia, highlighted the critical role of counselling in assisting drug abuse survivors.
“We want parents and caregivers to bring their children struggling with drugs to attend the event so they can be assisted with free counselling, withdrawal plans, and medication,” he said. He added that early intervention is crucial to prevent long-term addiction and social consequences, stressing that support should be provided in a holistic manner to address both mental and physical health.
Support for the campaign has been strengthened by Midlands State University, where counsellor and mental health therapist Ms Everjoy Masanjala, trained staff in preparation for the awareness campaign.
The workshop emphasised the need for collaboration among families, educators, community leaders, and young people to champion mental wellness and prevention strategies.
Mr Steve Bloomfield, therapist and counsellor with Domi, warned that drugs have become a “menace in Bulawayo” and announced that the initiative is developing a relapse prevention strategy to curb repeat abuse.
Counsellors attending the upcoming campaign said they are ready to discharge their duties and urged parents and caregivers to bring children struggling with drugs for immediate help while it is still early.
The awareness campaign, scheduled for 15 November, will feature exhibitions, expert presentations, interactive sessions and distribution of educational materials. It is part of a broader strategy aligned with national efforts to tackle Zimbabwe’s rising drug abuse crisis.
Zimbabwe has strengthened its legislative and institutional framework to fight substance abuse. The Multi-Sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan 2024–2030 provides a comprehensive framework for prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and enforcement. It emphasises community involvement, education, and health-based interventions as critical pillars of a coordinated response.
In October 2025, the Government gazetted the National Drug and Substance Abuse Control and Enforcement Agency Bill, creating a specialised agency to co-ordinate anti-drug efforts, strengthen enforcement, and ensure effective rehabilitation programs.
This agency will oversee treatment centres, counselling programmes and public awareness campaigns nationwide, and offering support to vulnerable populations while addressing illegal drug distribution networks.
Community institutions and NGOs are also playing a pivotal role in the fight against drugs. By attending awareness campaigns, seeking counselling and supporting Government initiatives, families and communities can actively combat the crisis.
The focus on holistic intervention, education, and enforcement seeks to reduce the social and economic consequences of drug abuse and foster a safer, healthier society.
By combining Government action, community participation and professional counselling, Zimbabwe is taking meaningful steps to address drug abuse, offering hope to those affected and working to build resilient, drug-free communities.
