Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
MATABELELAND South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Albert Nguluvhe has called on stakeholders to rally behind the province’s drug and substance abuse resource mobilisation initiative, describing it as a national call to action that demands collective effort from every citizen.
Speaking at a provincial stakeholders’ meeting in Gwanda on Friday, Minister Nguluvhe said the mobilisation process must be treated with urgency, integrity and inclusivity to protect young people, restore broken lives and build resilient, drug-free communities.
The meeting, attended by business leaders, miners, farmers, civil servants and other stakeholders, was held in preparation for the official provincial launch of the mobilisation campaign.
Minister Nguluvhe said drug and substance abuse had become one of Zimbabwe’s most urgent public health challenges, with Matabeleland South among the hardest hit.
To respond, the Government adopted the Zimbabwe Multi-Sectoral National Action Plan on Drug and Substance Abuse (2024-2030), which embraces prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, policy reform and sustained community engagement.
“The fight against drug and substance abuse cannot be carried by the Government alone. It requires a collaborative, bottom-up effort that engages all levels of society, from national to grassroots.
“There is an urgent need to adopt a provincial resource mobilisation model that fosters ownership, visibility and local participation,” said Minister Nguluvhe.
He said the province has been tasked with raising US$250 000 to support the implementation of anti-drug programmes under the thematic pillars of the provincial drug and substance abuse response committee.
Minister Nguluvhe urged stakeholders to contribute in cash or kind, stressing that the fundraising process must be inclusive, ethical and community-driven.
“The provincial resource mobilisation initiative must be viewed as a national call to action that translates the spirit of unity, compassion and national duty into tangible support in addressing one of the most pressing social challenges of our time,” he said.
The minister further emphasised patriotism, social responsibility and shared national interest, noting that the initiative supports President Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no community behind.
President Mnangagwa launched the National Drug and Substance Response Resource Mobilisation programme on July 11, urging provinces to raise funds and strengthen local strategies against the scourge.
To back the initiative, the Government has already allocated ZiG865 million, while individuals, corporations and development partners are being encouraged to partner through donations and collaborative programmes.
The national fight is guided by a seven-pillar framework covering supply reduction, demand reduction, harm reduction, treatment, rehabilitation, legal frameworks, community reintegration and media strategies.
Despite earlier frameworks such as the 2021 National Drug Master Plan, substance abuse among young people continues to rise alarmingly.
This has pushed the Government to intensify action through the 2024-2030 Multi-Sectoral Plan, which focuses on law enforcement, supply chain disruption, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services.
