Online Reporter
Ronald Mpofu
MANGWE District in Matabeleland South is set to host the launch of the Drug and Substance Abuse Resource Mobilization Programme this Friday at Plumtree Town Council’s TMB Hall, as the community rallies to raise US$40 000 for a provincial rehabilitation centre.
The event, themed “Building Drug-Free Communities through Partnership and Action,” marks a major step in the district’s campaign against drug and substance abuse. The funds will go toward the construction of the Matabeleland South Provincial Drug and Substance Rehabilitation Centre, envisioned as a hub for treatment, recovery, and reintegration of affected individuals.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Raji Modi is expected to be the guest of honour.
In the build-up to the launch, Radio Bukalanga will host district sub-committee chairpersons on Wednesday at 11AM to educate and mobilise communities for the big day.
“We are appealing to everyone to support this initiative,” said Mangwe District Development Coordinator Matilda Mlotshwa. “The centre will help us respond to the growing problem of drug and substance abuse in our province. Contributions, whether in cash or kind, are welcome.”
The campaign falls under the broader framework of the Provincial Drug and Substance Abuse Committee, which coordinates action across seven national pillars — including supply and demand reduction, harm reduction, treatment, legal reform, community reintegration, and communication.
The initiative follows President Mnangagwa’s 2023 declaration of drug and substance abuse as a national disaster, a response to the surge in cases affecting mostly the youth.
Mlotshwa said the district’s efforts are aimed at building a community-driven response.
“Partnerships are key in this fight. We all have a role to play in ensuring that our youth are saved from the scourge of drugs,” she said.
Bongani Ndlovu