Online Reporter
Blessings Chidakwa-Herald Reporter
A QUIET revolution is unfolding in the heart of Mbare and it is bringing tears of joy to parents and guardians who, for years, have watched helplessly as drugs stole their children.
Barely 10 days since it opened its doors, the Angel of Hope Drug and Rehabilitation Centre, founded by First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa through her Angel of Hope Foundation, has become a sanctuary of transformation and healing.
So overwhelming is the response that parents are flocking in numbers, some with tears in their eyes and hope in their hearts, eager to secure a spot for their loved ones.
The First Lady’s toll-free number, 575, has been inundated with calls, a reflection of the nation’s desperate plea for solutions to the scourge of drug and substance abuse.
Inside the centre’s walls, change is not just visible, it’s palpable.
Patients at Angel of Hope Drug and Rehabilitation Centre can now make up their beds, something they could not do when they first arrived at the centre as they were under the influence of drugs and substances.
Teenagers who just days ago could barely walk or utter a word due to heavy abuse of crystal meth (mutoriro) and guka are now chatting, smiling and even taking part in daily group therapy sessions.
For some, the biggest milestone is surprisingly simple: Finishing a plate of sadza. The majority who couldn’t even hold a spoon are now asking for seconds.
Professional counsellors, medical staff and trainers are working round the clock, providing a lifeline to these youths through structured detox, therapy, and skills training.
The atmosphere inside is not one of a clinical facility, it’s one of rebirth.
Patients at Angel of Hope Drug and Rehabilitation Centre can now perform chores independently such as sweeping, moping floors and many others they could not do when they first arrived at the centre.
With its rapidly growing reputation as a place where hope is not just promised, but practiced, the Angel of Hope Centre is redefining what rehabilitation can look like in Zimbabwe.
And with each recovering youth, the message is clear: the war on drugs is winnable one life at a time.
Administrator at the centre, Mr Charles Nyamukubva, said numbers don’t lie, the centre has been receiving much attention from parents and guardians eager to bring their children.
“This facility has had an overwhelming response from parents who wish to have their children admitted to this rehabilitation centre.
Patients at Angel of Hope Drug and Rehabilitation Centre being served food with majority of them now demanding larger portions as their appetite increases due to the treatment and rehabilitation process they are undergoing at the centre.
“Currently, in our register, we have over 400 people who are aiming to bring their children in the next intake,” he said.
Mr Nyamukubva said the recruits taken in about one-and-a-half weeks ago are progressing well.
“There is already a notable change in their character and complexion. As you know, drugs make one look very old; they make one look very dirty. But since they stopped taking those drugs, there’s a noticeable change, particularly in their complexion. We have a medical team and a nutrition team providing them with proper diets, and the trainers are giving them proper exercises,” he said.
Mr Nyamukubva said that, in terms of diet, they have professional cooks handling dietary requirements under the guidance of the medical team.
Patients at Angel of Hope Drug and Rehabilitation Centre enjoy their food. – Pictures: John Manzongo.
“In terms of their eating habits, you would be surprised. I can tell you, as the administrator, when they came, they were consuming around 10kg of mealie meal because they were still on drugs, and these drugs suppress appetite,” he said.
“But currently, we are now almost at 20kg, double the portion they were eating. Even for the girls, their appetite has returned as they regain their strength. Their bodies are now regaining strength, so the amount or portion they are now taking is increasing almost daily.”
A 24-year-old woman from Chitungwiza who used to take crystal meth bares it all.
Patients at Angel of Hope Drug and Rehabilitation Centre clean their plates and dishes after meals at the centre.
“When I used to take drugs, I would stay alone in a dark room, but after I came here, my life has transformed for good. I now socialise with my colleagues.
“Thanks to our First Lady, I am being taken good care of. Also, through the exercises we do, I feel fit in my body. I have regained myself,” she said. A 29-year-old man from Borrowdale, who was a victim of cannabis, crystal meth, and broncleer (bronco), said it was a nightmare spending about two days without sleep.
Patients at Angel of Hope Drug and Rehabilitation Centre clean their plates and dishes after meals at the centre.
“I used to lose sleep. I was also short-tempered to the extent that even at work, when my supervisors corrected me, I would just leave the job and go. All that is a thing of the past here I was taught endurance. We are being taught to be mentally and physically fit so as to withstand any obstacle without being under the influence of drugs. I have also gained weight,” he said.
A 26-year-old woman from Kuwadzana, who dropped out of university due to alcohol abuse, including drinking illicit brews commonly referred to as tumbwa, which had even affected her skin, applauded Dr Mnangagwa for changing her life.
“I used to drink tumbwa, abusing beer daily, and when I woke up, I would have bar balance (bhabharasi) and lose my appetite. I would reject food, but now all is well.
“Now I can eat and even ask for more if one plate feels like too little. Also, my skin had deteriorated badly, but now it is returning to my original light complexion,” she said.
Medical staff at Angel of Hope Drug and Rehabilitation Centre routinely check and assess patients’ health, improvement and also offer psycho social support.
A 22-year-old from Mufakose, whose football career was on the brink due to drugs, said he used to be violent and a bully.
“Drugs would make me absurd. Even if someone was just walking past on the street and I felt irritated, I would beat them up. But after my days here, I am now more tolerant.
“I can now co-exist well with others. When I reintegrate with my community, I want to be a role model, sharing my experiences. I also want to revive my career,” he said.
Hands-on, Dr Mnangagwa, through her Angel of Hope Foundation, opened the trendsetting Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Harare on 16 July a facility which symbolises a shift from awareness to action.
The centre, situated at the Stodart Arena and accommodating up to 200 patients, provides 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 engage in workouts and therapeutic interventions aimed at naturally flushing toxins from their bodies, while simultaneously tackling behavioural issues including rebelliousness and disrespect.
