Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
THE Mukumbura Border Post on Zimbabwe’s frontier with Mozambique has been identified as a potential gateway for illicit drugs, with Government ordering heightened surveillance and tighter coordination among security agencies as it intensifies the fight against drug and substance abuse.
Speaking at the Mashonaland Central Provincial Drug and Substance Abuse Interface in Bindura yesterday, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Kazembe Kazembe, who represented National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse chairperson and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, said the province’s shared border with Mozambique requires increased vigilance to stop criminal syndicates from exploiting it to traffic illegal substances.
She said while Mukumbura remained vital for legitimate trade and the movement of people, it could also be used by drug traffickers, making stronger collaboration among border security, immigration, customs, police, health and intelligence agencies imperative.
“Border security, immigration, customs, law enforcement, health and intelligence agencies must strengthen information sharing and joint operations to detect and intercept illicit substances,” she said.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri warned that drug and substance abuse had become a national security, socio-economic and public health challenge that was destroying families, disrupting education, fuelling crime and violence, reducing workplace productivity and placing immense pressure on health and social services.
If left unchecked, she said the scourge would undermine the country’s drive towards Vision 2030.
The Second Republic has adopted a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach following a directive by President Mnangagwa, resulting in the establishment of the National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse and provincial, district and local structures to implement the Zimbabwe Multi-Sectoral National Action Plan on Drug and Substance Abuse (2024-2030).
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri challenged mining companies, commercial farmers, small-scale miners, farm owners and business leaders in Mashonaland Central to support workplace awareness campaigns, youth recreation programmes and rehabilitation initiatives, noting that mining communities and seasonal labour movements had created conditions that fuel drug abuse.
She also issued a stern warning against illegal rehabilitation centres, saying some unregistered operators were exploiting desperate families by charging exorbitant fees while exposing recovering addicts to inhumane conditions.
“Rehabilitation must never become a business that profits from human suffering,” she said.
“Government will continue strengthening the inspection, registration, licensing and compliance monitoring of rehabilitation facilities.
“Institutions operating outside the law should understand that Government will not hesitate to institute the necessary legal and administrative measures.”
Mashonaland Central Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Christopher Magomo said the province remained fully committed to implementing the national strategy through strengthened law enforcement, rehabilitation, awareness campaigns and coordinated stakeholder interventions.
The provincial committee is working closely with Government departments, traditional leaders, churches, civil society organisations and development partners across all thematic pillars to combat the growing menace.
Minister Magomo said the visit by the national committee, which also toured the Chipadze Rehabilitation Centre, would help assess progress, identify implementation gaps and strengthen provincial interventions aimed at preventing drug abuse, rehabilitating affected individuals and reintegrating them into society.
He reaffirmed the province’s determination to become one of the country’s leading provinces in eliminating drug and substance abuse through coordinated action involving all sectors of society.
A provincial drug and substance abuse response report shows that while authorities have seized large quantities of illicit drugs, trained thousands of young people in life-changing skills and strengthened public awareness campaigns, treatment and reintegration remain the weakest links in the fight against addiction.
The report reveals that Chipadze Rehabilitation Centre, established in Bindura in 2023 as the Government’s first Government-owned rehabilitation facility, has assisted 1 362 clients to date, recorded 276 cumulative admissions and currently has 29 in-patients.
Health authorities have already identified Mvurwi and Matepatepa country clubs for conversion into additional rehabilitation centres, but delays in funding have slowed progress.
The report warns that expanding rehabilitation services is now critical if the country is to sustain gains made in reducing drug supply and preventing abuse.
Law enforcement agencies also reported major recoveries during the reporting period, seizing 75 107 kilogrammes of bulk dagga, 2 594 sachets and 104 stubs of cannabis, 1 116 sachets of crystal meth and 735 bottles of 100ml BronCleer cough syrup, substances commonly abused by youths.
Authorities noted an increase in the number of women arrested for drug-related offences compared to previous years, a trend they say requires targeted interventions.
However, traffickers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using advanced concealment methods to evade detection.
The report recommends shifting from operations largely targeting users to intelligence-driven investigations focusing on major suppliers, transporters and distribution networks.
Government’s prevention strategy has also centred on empowering young people economically.
According to the report, 12 567 youths received training in entrepreneurship, agribusiness, information and communication technology, and financial literacy, while another 4 765 benefited from Skills Outreach Programmes.
A further 1 281 young people enrolled at Vocational Training Centres, 210 secured temporary contract employment through the National Employment Council and 120 students joined the Care2Share programme run by Young Africa.
The report recommends increased Treasury funding and stronger partnerships with the private sector and financial institutions to expand youth empowerment programmes.
On resource mobilisation, the province raised US$19 357,58 during the Provincial Drug and Substance Abuse Campaign launched at Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University in August last year.
Treasury also disbursed 4,4 million ZiG, which was used to procure information, education and communication materials and finance a Training of Trainers workshop held at Baradzanwa in July this year.
The report identifies a severe shortage of psychiatrists as one of the biggest obstacles to effective treatment, despite Government having trained 495 health workers and deployed mental health coordinators, psychologists and medical social workers across all districts.
Chipadze Rehabilitation Centre is also operating without dedicated transport, limiting outreach services and patient follow-up programmes.
