Government gazettes Anti-Drug Abuse Bill

Zvamaida Murwira

Senior Reporter

The Government has gazetted the National Drug, Substance Abuse Control and Enforcement Bill that will establish an agency to enforce laws that deal with drug trafficking and substance abuse.

The agency will also coordinate access to social support services such as vocational training and drug rehabilitation programmes to support recovery and development.

The Bill will create the National Drug and Substance Abuse Control and Enforcement Agency that will be divided into the Social Services Intervention and the Enforcement Divisions.

The Social Services Division will focus on demand reduction, offering support services, conducting research, and educating the public; while the Enforcement Division will focus on supply reduction, investigating and prosecuting drug-related offenses, and collaborating with law enforcement agencies.

The Bill is part of the Government’s initiatives to curb the drug and substance abuse scourge that is threatening to undermine the country’s moral fabric.