Online Reporter
Takudzwa Mangrozah
Herald Reporter
YOUNG people must resist drug and substance abuse as they the generation that will drive Zimbabwe’s industrialisation and transformation, a Cabinet minister has said.
Speaking at an anti-drug and substance abuse awareness march organised by the United Methodist Church (UMC) Harare West District, Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said drug abuse was fast becoming a major threat to the country’s future.
“Drug and substance abuse is that thief among us. It steals the brilliance of our youth, kills the productivity of our workforce and destroys the sanctity of our homes and communities,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the scourge was affecting families, schools and communities, warning that it posed a serious risk to national development.
“These are not merely statistics. They represent interrupted education, broken families, diminished productivity and dreams deferred,” she said.
Quoting former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Minister Mutsvangwa said, “Drugs are a waste of time. They destroy your memory and your self-respect and everything that goes along with your self-esteem.”
She urged young people to take responsibility for their future and avoid substance abuse.
“You are not the problem, you are the solution. You are the generation that will drive Zimbabwe’s industrialisation, innovation and transformation,” she said.
Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Drugs Section, Detective Sergeant Calphen Foya, said law enforcement agencies are intensifying efforts to curb both drug use and supply.
He said many individuals are drawn into drug abuse due to lack of knowledge, which later develops into addiction.
“Once someone gets into drugs, we count them as drug abusers because after that, they need rehabilitation to go back to normal,” said Det Sgt Foya.
He noted that drugs fall into two categories, legal and illegal, but warned that some legal substances, such as morphine, are also being abused.
Det Sgt Foya said drug abuse has wider social consequences, including increased criminal activity as users seek funds to sustain their habits.
“You are not only hurting yourself, but you are hurting people around you. Money meant for the family is now used on drugs, and some people turn to crime,” he said.
He revealed that between January and April 30, police arrested more than 5 000 people for drug-related offences, with the majority being men. Over 800 drug dealers were also arrested, with women being the majority, while 82 drug bases were destroyed during the period.
The march highlighted the need for a collective approach in tackling drug and substance abuse, with Government, the Church and communities urged to strengthen awareness campaigns and support rehabilitation efforts.
