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Blessings Chidakwa-Herald Reporter
TRAILBLAZING First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday opened a trendsetting Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Harare, a facility symbolising a shift from awareness to action, walking the talk in the menace against drugs and substance abuse.
Right in the gritty, pulsating heart of Mbare, a suburb more often associated with headlines of drug dens and wasted youth some who succumbed to peer pressure something extraordinary happened.
There is a new centre for rehabilitation at the Stodart Arena which accommodates up to 200 patients, providing a secure environment with a holistic approach blending social amenities, basic education, medical treatment, social support through counselling and rigorous physical activity.
Under the guidance of trained coaches, patients do workouts and therapeutic interventions aimed at naturally flushing toxins from their bodies, at the same time tackling behavioural issues including rebelliousness and disrespect.
Where once hopelessness lingered and the smell of burnt crystal meth hung in the air, a fresh scent of recovery, dignity and transformation now floats free of charge, thanks to a bold and hands-on intervention by the First Lady Dr Mnangagwa.
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa looks at the food stuffs which were donated by Angel of Hope Foundation partners for the upkeep of patients at the rehabilitation centre in Harare yesterday.
For beneficiaries, it started as tears and trembling hands as parents and guardians from across Zimbabwe went through the registration process, clutching their children some barely responsive, others visibly agitated victims of a growing drug crisis that has gripped the nation.
The centre’s first intake was quickly oversubscribed. Long queues snaked through the compound, with mothers and fathers sobbing silently as they filled in registration forms, praying that this would be the place where their sons and daughters would find healing.
Each victim was carefully screened before being admitted into the programme. Some came with visible withdrawal symptoms. Others, shockingly, had the audacity to smuggle drugs onto the premises a stark reminder of the grip addiction holds.
The contraband was immediately confiscated and the individuals placed under strict observation.
With barely 120 hours after being incorporated into the centre, there were already notable changes yesterday as the patients were paraded before the First Lady, Dr Mnangagwa and their parents, smartly clad in Angel of Hope blue attire tracksuits with shaved heads.
Led by their trainers, they marched past the crowd, much to the ululation of their parents and guardians whose faces portrayed glimpse of hope.
Dr Mnangagwa, who addressed the delegates after first touring the newly established Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Centre, said it is intended to rehabilitate children and young adults who have been caught up in the nefarious web of drug and substance abuse.
The First Lady said drug and substance abuse has become a growing threat to public health, national security, economic growth and social stability regionally and globally and Zimbabwe is no exception.
Patients at Angel of Hope drug rehabilitation centre make up their beds before the official opening of the centre by Angel of Hope Foundation patron First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa in Harare yesterday.
“This facility I am launching today demonstrates a model rehabilitation framework to mitigate the health, education, and empowerment challenges faced by children and youths who abuse drugs and substances in Zimbabwe,” she said.
“This skills and rehabilitation centre is an ostensive expression of my heartfelt motherly love, deeply rooted in the spirit of shared empathy, compassion and maternal love shared in our nation,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said the centre aims to rehabilitate drug-abusing youth by offering a safe space, education, health care, counselling, recreation and promoting awareness and respect for their rights and well-being.
“It is my ultimate goal to see the children and young people addicted to drugs and substances rehabilitated, restored, reunited with their families, and reintegrated into the greater society,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said it is her fervent hope that this creativity will be diverted into productivity by the young people.
“There is also a growing trend in the use of new psychoactive substances among school students than among the general population this demographic dividend.
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa shares a lighter moment with Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution in the Office of the President and Cabinet Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti as they inspected some of the beds for patients at the rehabilitation centre in Harare yesterday.
“Young people are not only more vulnerable to drug and substance abuse than adults, but also experience the most long-term consequences given their stage of brain development,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said children living on streets, driven by unmet basic needs, neglect and the pursuit of survival in cities, are frequently reported as common abusers of drugs and substances.
“It is worrisome to note that on these streets, these children not only succumb to drug and substance abuse but also face a myriad of problems such as sexual exploitation and the subsequent reproductive health maladies, violence, lack of education, and empowerment,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said drug abuse now affects all genders, ages and social groups, with vulnerable populations like the homeless and disabled hit hardest shockingly, even professionals who are increasingly found intoxicated at work.
“The scourge continues to debilitate the socio-economic fabric of nations, thereby undermining the vitality of individuals, families, communities, and the health, peace, and security sectors of nations,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said worldwide and locally, drug abuse is on the surge, with one in 30 households using drugs in Zimbabwe.
The First Lady said the most abused drugs and substances include steroids, heroin, cocaine, cannabis, inhalants, opioids, prescription drugs, bath salts (such as crystal meth, mutoriro, guka) and illicit brews (tumbwa).
“It is disheartening to note that drug and substance abusers creatively use substances never known to be intoxicating, such as substances drawn from diapers/pampers and electrical globes,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said Article 39 of the UN Convention mandates rehabilitative care for abused children, a commitment Zimbabwe upholds through its NDS1 and the 2024-2030 drug abuse plan.
The First Lady said rising youth drug abuse demands expanded, culturally sensitive rehabilitation services offering psychological, educational, health and recreational support. One of the beneficiaries at the centre, Lyton Matobo, gave a testimony of how the centre has transformed his life just 120 hours after his admission.
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa interacts with medical personnel who are screening and assisting patients at the rehabilitation centre in Harare yesterday.
“I used to lead a miserable life under the yoke of drugs. I applaud the First Lady for the facility. I promise never to partake in drugs again in my life,” he said.
Parents and guardians whose children are undergoing rehabilitation hailed Dr Mnangagwa for a job well done, with Mrs Memory Shumba, whose child has suffered from drug abuse since 2015, saying the First Lady is truly an angel sent by the Lord.
“I had struggled with my child, who spent six years in college without completing studies due to drugs. At one point, my child was injured and lost front teeth. May God grant you more years, our First Lady, for such a wonderful initiative,” she said.
Another parent, Mrs Twanuki Samhungu, said she had been mocked and labelled all sorts of names because of her children’s involvement with drugs.
“I applaud our mother, Dr Mnangagwa, for introducing this initiative, which is being conducted openly and free of charge.
I couldn’t afford the fees charged at specialised rehabilitation centres,” she said.
Patients and their carers display their newly acquired marching skills during the official opening of Angel of Hope drug rehabilitation centre by First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa in Mbare, Harare yesterday.
Weeping, Mrs Bertha Mukarakate saluted the First Lady for her unwavering support in the fight against drug and substance abuse.
Another parent, Rishita Nyamutatiwa, said she had endured a harsh life filled with verbal and physical abuse, but now sees hope for change.
Mr Author Muromba, Mrs Susan Mutepfa, and Mrs Zelifa Chatata were also among the parents who praised Dr Mnangagwa for the noble initiative, saying some children had become violent and destructive.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Harare Metropolitan Province, Charles Tawengwa, challenged the City of Harare to emulate the good deeds by the First Lady.
Part of the crowd that witnessed the official opening of the Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Mbare, Harare yesterday.
“Your Excellency, for this great initiative, we thank you so much for that love. I am well informed that the accelerated rehabilitation of this facility took less than a week, thanks to the construction and administrative teams who were working here day and night.
“This place should not be a paradise in the midst of a jungle. I therefore challenge City of Harare to maintain and spruce up the vicinity and match the standards demonstrated here by Her Excellency, the First Lady, Dr Mnangagwa,” he said.
Acting Mayor, Councillor Stanley Manyenga, thanked the First Lady for transforming the centre which they handed over to Angel of Hope, saying it is a testament to her dedication to the welfare and progress of Zimbabwean citizens.
One of the parents of drug patients shed tears of pain and relief at the same time as she expressed appreciation to First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for admitting free of charge her child at the drug rehabilitation centre in Harare yesterday.
“This centre represents a significant milestone in our collective pursuit of empowering residents, particularly the youth, with skills that enhance employability, foster entrepreneurship, and contribute to the socio-economic development of our city and nation,” he said.
“The facilities will undoubtedly serve as a catalyst for innovation, creativity and self-reliance among our people who had resorted to drugs. We appreciate Your Excellency’s commitment to initiatives that uplift communities and bridge the skills gap, aligning with the aspirations of Zimbabwe’s development agenda.”
Some of the parents of drug patients now accommodated at Angel of Hope drug rehabilitation centre shed tears as they narrated the stigma, psychological pain and burden they endured in society because of their children who were involved in drugs and substance abuse.
Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti, said after completing the rehabilitation programme, modalities are being worked out for the children to be enrolled in various skills training courses.
Popular dancehall artiste with roots from Mbare, Killer T, also praised the initiative, urging youths to steer clear of drugs, warning that they ruin lives.
This groundbreaking intervention is part of the First Lady’s inclusive campaign that aims to reach every individual and community.
