tawandamusarurwa
Aaron Charungwa Moyo
POLICE have seized illicit drugs and substances valued at nearly $500 million from about 6 000 suspected drug dealers and users since the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Drug and Substance Abuse last year.
This comes as Government has established a $500 million drug and substance abuse mitigation fund to speed up high-impact activities to fight the scourge.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima, under whose ministry the fund is being administered, said a unit has been set up to coordinate activities of the high-level taskforce.
“Regarding supply reduction, the taskforce has managed to conduct surveillance activities across the country, leading to the arrest and prosecution of a cumulative 6 156 accused persons,” he said.
“This was done through intensified surveillance, under Operation Clean Up Zimbabwe, where the taskforce managed to recover drugs and substances valued at $438 654 692, being crystal meth, cocaine, Ecstasy, dagga, Adco-Saltarpyn, BronCleer, Histalix and Benylyn.”
The taskforce, he added, also undertook surveillance missions at the Beitbridge Border Post, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport and Victoria Falls International Airport to establish how drugs were being smuggled into the country.
“The visits revealed that the porosity of border posts and airports, limited scanning equipment and limited staff capacity are the major causes of drugs and substances not being detected upon entry in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Resources from the drugs mitigation fund, Prof Mavima added, will be deployed to all areas of need.
“The purpose of the fund is to finance activities of all the pillars in terms of surveillance, awareness raising, capacity-building, purchase of medication, rehabilitation and psycho-social support, as well as community reintegration support.
“The fund is administered by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, and all pillars access the funds upon request, in line with the budget and plan.
“Additionally, there is room for special requests for additional funds whenever justifiable need arises.”
It is understood that hundreds of drug users have received treatment for drug-related ailments at various Government health institutions.
“Locally, people who use drugs access treatment and rehabilitation services from Government mental health institutions.
“These include Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, Ngomahuru, Beatrice Rehabilitation Centre, Ingutsheni and other provincial mental health institutions across the country.
“A total of 736 patients have since received the same services in the above-mentioned rehabilitation centres.
“The services are State-funded, hence clients do not pay any fees for the services.”
Online Reporter