Online Reporter
Blessings Chidakwa-Senior Reporter
For some families, the journey to the Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Mbare has carried years of pain, broken relationships and shattered dreams, but also a renewed belief that their loved ones could reclaim their lives.
Bearing the scars of unimaginable experiences caused by drug and substance abuse, families arrived at the centre with stories of violence, loss, desperation and hope as the ninth intake of beneficiaries began its recovery journey under the life-changing programme spearheaded by First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa.
The atmosphere reflected the difficult road many families had travelled, a poignant mixture of heartbreak and hope.
Families recounted how addiction had torn their homes apart, with loved ones abandoning school, losing jobs, stealing household property and drifting away from those who cared for them most.
Some spoke of violent outbursts, hallucinations and sleepless nights spent searching for answers, while others remained silent, clinging to the hope that this time rehabilitation would succeed.
Many of those admitted bore visible signs of prolonged substance abuse, arriving in tattered, soiled clothing, with unkempt hair and frail bodies reflecting years of neglect and suffering.
Among the most emotional moments was a mother who broke down while recounting how her son, under the influence of drugs, crawled into her bed and slept beneath her blankets, leaving the family traumatised and desperate for help.
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa assists with the registration of a girl for treatment and rehabilitation during the ninth intake of the Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Programme in Mbare, Harare.
Nearby, another father fought back tears as he narrated how his daughter was impregnated while frequenting drug dens and was left with a seven-month-old baby. As she embarks on her recovery journey, he has assumed responsibility for raising his grandchild, hoping the rehabilitation programme will give his daughter a second chance at life.
Elsewhere, another family arrived carrying the pain of watching their relative repeatedly dig up their homestead after becoming convinced there was gold buried beneath the property.
Throughout the admission process, Dr Mnangagwa spent time interacting with families and guardians, listening attentively to their stories and assuring them that no life was beyond redemption.
She urged them not to lose hope, saying recovery was possible through commitment, love and unwavering support. The First Lady said rehabilitation was a collective responsibility requiring the support of families, communities and society, encouraging parents and guardians to continue standing by their loved ones despite years of pain, disappointment and heartache.
Mother Zimbabwe also personally registered some of the new beneficiaries, warmly welcoming them while encouraging their families to remain patient and supportive throughout the rehabilitation process.
Dr Mnangagwa expressed profound gratitude to partners supporting the Angel of Hope Foundation, saying their unwavering commitment had enabled the organisation to transform countless lives and restore hope to families across the country.
After the admission process, the First Lady addressed the beneficiaries, highlighting the devastating consequences of drug and substance abuse on individuals, families and communities.
She urged them to fully embrace the rehabilitation programme and, upon completing it, to seek forgiveness from their parents and loved ones for the pain their addiction had caused. Moved by the First Lady’s message, beneficiaries openly shared their journeys into drug and substance abuse, expressing deep remorse and a firm determination to rebuild their lives through rehabilitation. There were tears, trembling voices and years of anguish etched on the faces of families as they recounted how drug and substance abuse had turned their loved ones into strangers, shattering homes that were once filled with love, laughter and hope.
A battle for a new beginning . . . Officials struggle to admit a patient battling drug and substance abuse during the ninth intake of the Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Programme in Mbare, Harare.
Struggling to hold back tears, Ms Esnat Mahuku said her son’s addiction transformed him into a violent and unpredictable person who terrorised the family, culminating in a traumatic attempted rape ordeal.
“One night, while I was asleep, my son climbed onto my bed and tried to force himself on me. When I resisted, he grabbed me by the neck and tried to strangle me. He had become so consumed by drugs that he no longer recognised me as his own mother,” she said.
A police officer accompanies a drug and substance abuse patient during admission into the Centre.
For Mr Ishamuel Tsaga, the pain has been watching his daughter abandon her future and descend into drug abuse before returning home with a baby. “She dropped out of school after Form Four and would disappear from home for days. She eventually came back carrying a baby after falling pregnant. I am now looking after her seven-month-old child while she fights this addiction. I just want my daughter back,” he said.
Mrs Modesta Chari said drugs left her family homeless after her child became convinced there was gold buried beneath their property.
A young man under the influence of drugs smiles unknowingly of the surroundings during admission at Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Centre.
“He dug up all seven rooms searching for gold that did not exist. Nothing was spared. He even destroyed the toilet with his bare hands. Our home was completely ruined and I was eventually forced out of my own house,” she said.
Mrs Marifa Madzamuse said addiction robbed her child of dignity and plunged the family into untold suffering. “My child constantly insulted me, stole maize from the house to sell for drugs and stopped bathing. Sometimes he would cook food in the middle of the night, and there were occasions he wandered the streets of Harare for three days without eating,” she said. Fighting back tears, Mrs Alice Maigurira said she had become both parent and grandparent after drugs tore her family apart.
Shying away… A patient shies away from the camera during admission.
“I came here with my two grandchildren because drugs have destroyed my family. My child became violent, calling me a prostitute and constantly fighting me. I had lost all hope, but today I am praying that this programme will give my family a second chance,” she said.
A group of well-wishers from the Online Transport group also donated sanitary wear to female beneficiaries, saying they were motivated by the First Lady’s tireless efforts to transform the lives of young people affected by drug and substance abuse.
Ms Sandra Goto, representing the Online Transport group, said the First Lady’s unwavering commitment to rescuing young people from drug and substance abuse had encouraged them to support the rehabilitation programme.
Youth at risk . . . A teenage patient is admitted into the Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Centre.
“We came because we wanted to support the First Lady’s noble initiative and encourage those recovering from drug and substance abuse. They deserve a second chance in life, and we hope our contribution reminds them that society still believes in them,” she said. Ms Goto commended Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for establishing a rehabilitation programme that continues to restore hope to beneficiaries and their families while giving young people an opportunity to rebuild their lives. Ms Hilda Chemugarira said the First Lady’s compassion and unwavering commitment to transforming lives through the Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Centre had inspired many people to lend a helping hand.
A painful step towards recovery . . . A teenage patient sheds tears as she is admitted for treatment at the Centre.
“We came to donate sanitary wear because the women here are our sisters. It is not that we have plenty ourselves, but we believe in sharing what we have and supporting one another.
“The First Lady’s remarkable work in giving these young people a second chance inspired us to play our part and contribute what we could,” she said.
A mother shares a moment with her son through the fence following his admission.
Ms Chemugarira said the rehabilitation centre had become a beacon of hope for countless families, proving that with compassion, support and determination, people affected by drug and substance abuse could rebuild their lives and become productive members of society.
A moment of reflection . . . A girl sits deep in thought after being admitted into the Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Centre.
These were just some of the heartbreaking testimonies shared by families from across Zimbabwe who thronged the rehabilitation centre for its ninth intake, united by one hope that the Angel of Hope rehabilitation programme would restore broken lives, heal fractured families and offer their loved ones a new beginning.
