Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
MANICALAND Province will soon begin constructing rehabilitation centres to address the scourge of drug and substance abuse, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, has announced.
Speaking during the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi Tourism Expo awards ceremony, Minister Mugadza said the initiative follows clear instructions from the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, who recently spearheaded a national anti-drug march in Mbare.
“As our First Lady, you have taken the bull by the horns by innovatively coming up with the Mbare anti-drug and substance abuse campaign, where the whole country is now benefiting. We are happy that during our fundraising, which you instructed us to carry out as a province, we raised US$620 000. Very soon, we will start constructing the rehabilitation centres as per your instruction,” he said.
The funds were raised last month through contributions from stakeholders, including business executives, companies, local authorities, legislators, religious organisations, traditional leaders, and individuals.
The pooled resources will be channelled towards establishing functional rehabilitation infrastructure across the province to assist survivors of drug and substance abuse.
Minister Mugadza said with construction expected to begin soon, the rehabilitation centres are set to become a cornerstone in the province’s broader response to substance abuse, offering, not just treatment, but hope and restoration for hundreds of youths battling addiction.
He commended the people of Manicaland for their overwhelming generosity in supporting the fight against the vice.
He said the construction of rehabilitation centres will not, only assist affected individuals, but also strengthen families and communities that continue to grapple with the destructive consequences of drug use.
“Drug and substance abuse has left a trail of broken dreams, shattered families and wasted potential, particularly among our youths.
These rehabilitation centres will provide a second chance to those affected, giving them professional help, counselling, and reintegration support into society,” he said.
Minister Mugadza further applauded Dr Mnangagwa for her continued leadership on the issue, noting that her community-based initiatives have inspired action across all provinces.
Speaking during the recent fundraising ceremony held in the city, Minister Mugadza stressed that drug abuse has reached alarming levels in the province, which is both a conduit and a destination for smuggled illicit substances.
“We have witnessed Manicaland being used as a gateway for smuggled drugs. The result is a sharp increase in local consumption and peddling, even among schoolchildren. While law enforcement agencies have been working tirelessly to clamp down on drug bases, it is clear that without rehabilitation, our youths remain trapped in a destructive cycle,” he said.
Minister Mugadza said chief among the interventions already being implemented in the province are joint operations by law enforcement agencies, resulting in the arrests and destruction of drug bases, as well as awareness campaigns in schools and communities.
However, the minister admitted that challenges persist, with many youths still exposed to harmful drugs such as crystal methamphetamine (mutoriro), cannabis, and illicit brews.
“This fight requires us to go beyond policing. Rehabilitation gives us a pathway to recovery for those already affected. We must match enforcement with compassion, prevention with treatment, and punishment with hope,” said Minister Mugadza.
Meanwhile, stakeholders have also welcomed the planned rehabilitation centres as a critical intervention.
Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, previously applauded the mobilisation of funds, describing it as a practical step towards addressing the crisis.
She said the collective mobilisation of resources is key to the success of the Zimbabwe Multi-Sectorial Drug and Substance Abuse Plan (2024-2030), which was launched by President Mnangagwa.
“This vice has reached endemic proportions in our country, and has birthed a number of undesirable outcomes that are negatively impacting our socio-economic development. These activities include raising awareness, strengthening policing, and importantly, providing rehabilitation and reintegration support. That is why these centres will be a game changer,” she said.
She urged communities in Manicaland to remain vigilant, work closely with law enforcement agencies, and support families affected by drug abuse.
She reiterated that Government remains committed to delivering on the rehabilitation project without delay.
“Our children are our future. We cannot sit idly while drugs consume their lives. We have a duty to fight this scourge on all fronts, through awareness, enforcement, and now, through the establishment of proper rehabilitation facilities,” she said.
