Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
GOVERNMENT has launched a multi-faceted campaign to combat the widespread drug and substance abuse plaguing the nation – threatening the health, security, economy, and social stability of the nation.
Various initiatives and programmes, including awareness campaigns, legislative reforms, youth empowerment initiatives, arrests of drug peddlers and abusers, and seizures of illegal drugs and illicit brews, are being implemented across the country to address the pervasive scourge.
Drug havens are being regularly raided and destroyed, while convicted peddlers are being named and shamed.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, while addressing the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, Officer Commanding Manicaland Province Sports Gala held at Vengere High School, in Rusape last weekend, said time for rhetoric and empty slogans is over, and real action should be implemented if the nation is to win the battle against the scourge.
“Indeed this scourge is not addressed by mere slogans, but action that resonates deeply with the challenges that our communities are facing. To this effect at national level, the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services is playing a crucial role in the fight against drugs by supporting Government’s Multi-Sectoral
Drug and Substance Abuse Plan (2024 to 2030). The plan’s aim is to tackle the significant public health, socio-economic and national security challenges posed by drug and substance abuse. Today’s gala is a shining example of commitment to this cause. It brings together officers from all the ZPCS stations dotted in Manicaland, ready to showcase their athletic prowess and in the process reinforce the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
“The Multi-Sectorial Drug and Substance Abuse Plan has very distinct pillars, which speak to harm reduction, demand reduction, supply reduction, community integration, policy and regulation and media and communication. For us to be able to achieve Vision 2030, we have to work to find ways to deal with the supply side.
“Government is working on establishing the Drug Abuse Agency, and the Attorney General’s Office is finalising modalities on the agency. Meanwhile, we have the Dangerous Drugs Act, Medical Substance and Allied Act and Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act – all these pieces of legislation have been put in place in order to suppress and liquidate the proliferation of drugs and substance abuse,” said Minister Muswere.
In a demonstration of his commitment, Minister Muswere also launched a US$20 000 sports tournament in Makoni West Constituency, where he serves as the Member of House of Assembly.
During the launch, he emphasised the importance of sporting activities in keeping youths engaged and away from harmful activities, including drug abuse.
“We are leveraging sport to combat drug and substance abuse in our constituency.
Our approach is inclusive, providing every young person with the opportunity to participate from the grassroots level, all the way up to the constituency finals.
Our constituency champions will compete in inter-district games against teams from across Makoni Central and Headlands constituencies. Furthermore, we will be inviting scouts to identify talented players,” said Minister Muswere.
He also distributed uniforms, match balls and sporting equipment for the participating teams.
Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa last week presided over the Manicaland Drug and Substance Abuse Fundraising meeting in Mutare, where individuals, corporates, local authorities, religious organisations, traditional leaders, and politicians pledged US$620 000 to combat drug abuse.
Minister Mutsvangwa said drug and substance abuse is increasing, affecting 1:30 households, and attributed its rise to socio-economic factors, including unemployment.
“The continued growth of the drug and substance abuse scourge in Zimbabwe has been hitting hard the pursuance of and realisation of Government’s socio-economic development plans. As such, communities and families across the country are being steadily afflicted, leading to their breakdown and dysfunction. This will have a retrogressive impact on the future of the country, even more so, given the fact youths constitute the largest proportion of drugs and substance abusers.
“Statistics from research carried out indicate that drug abuse among youths rose from 43 percent in 2017 to 45 percent in 2018, and 57 percent in 2019. Approximately 1:30 households in Zimbabwe is affected by drug and substance abuse, which translate to over 533 334 individuals nationwide. The high youth unemployment rate (35 percent in 2023) has been cited as a push factor that has led to many vulnerable individuals to turn to drug and substance abuse as coping mechanism.
The unfortunate situation provides a clarion call to policymakers and stakeholders to pool resources that will be directed towards meeting the real causes of drug abuse among youths in our communities and provide solutions that will make our women, youths, and communities economically productive. This will play a major role in reducing dependence on illicit drugs for escapism by our communities and streamline their energies into positive pursuits that contribute to the realisation of our national development blueprints. The current national drug scourge is placing a heavy burden on the national health care delivery system. Research indicates that there is a significant increase in mental health issues, as an estimated 60 percent of institutionalised patients are struggling with drug-related challenges. The rehabilitation centres are currently treating at least 5 000 individuals, but this is a far cry from the thousands more that remain without access to mental health and rehabilitation services and facilities,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said gains made by the country in reducing gender based violence are being threatened by drug abuse, and called for collective efforts to fund anti-drug abuse activities.“Drug and substance abuse is now a direct casual factor in gender based violence, with as much as 45 percent of GBV cases being linked to drug and substance abuse. With GBV already being a painful thorn in our nation, the increased uptake of drugs, alcohol and illicit substances is only serving to raise levels of GBV and mitigate against efforts by Government and key stakeholders to effectively tackle its detrimental impact,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza highlighted the province’s efforts to combat drug abuse, noting that 153 peddlers were arrested and several drug houses were busted between January and June 2025.
However, he emphasised that significant challenges persist, particularly in addressing the root causes of drug abuse, such as unemployment and peer pressure. Minister Mugadza also underscored the need for adequate rehabilitation facilities and aftercare services, stressing that the demand for support far exceeds available resources.
“Between January 2025 and June 2025, we arrested 153 peddlers and busted several drug houses. Despite these efforts, significant challenges persist. The problem is deeply rooted in socio-economic issues, including unemployment and peer pressure. We are also struggling to provide adequate rehabilitation facilities and aftercare services, as demand far exceeds available resources – a critical gap we must address,” he said.
