adminArron Nyamayaro
DRUG abuse continues to claim the lives of men and women and risks derailing national development, a crime consultative chairperson has said.
Harare Province Crime Consultative Committee chairperson, Dr Nathaniel Madzivanyika, said this while officially opening an Anti-Drug Campaign, in the capital, on Friday.
“With profound joy, I stand before you today, officiating at this important occasion being held on the sidelines of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking marked every year on the 26th of June.
“This campaign bears testimony to our commitment to stopping drug and substance abuse.
“Our resolve, as a nation, encapsulated in our National Drug Master Plan 2020 to 2025, dovetails with United Nations General Assembly ethos of strengthening action and cooperation towards the achievement of a society free of drug abuse.
“We have, for instance, legislation on drug control centering on the United Nations International Conventions. Among others, we have Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23), Dangerous Drugs Act (Chapter 15:02) and Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act (Chapter 15:03).
“The message in all our statutes is crystal clear – drug abuse is a crime that should never be given space in our society.
“May I hasten to say that drug abuse is a growing public health and security problem in Zimbabwe, regionally and all over the world and this is strongly linked to interpersonal violence, unintentional injuries, road traffic accidents, multiple medical complications as well as psychological and mental health complications.”
“Our Mental Health Services reports that approximately 60 percent of patients currently admitted in mental health institutions suffer from drug related problems.
“Of concern now, ladies and gentlemen, is also the initiation of children, as young as nine, into drug and substance abuse.
“Sad to say, cases of juvenile suicides, crime and violence are spiralling and, all can be traced back to drug abuse.
“We have had reports of kids taking jolly juice, and fermenting cereals such as Cerevita corn and wheat, Movite and Cornflakes into illegal, highly intoxicating brews.”
He took a swipe on boys and girls abusing sex-enhancing medicines and those abusing mutoriro and cough syrups.
“Community support remains extremely important in the prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and acceptance of those addicted to substances.
“Let’s help to break the stigma and promote faster recovery.
“Be that messenger who provides factual information on the negative socio-economic effects of substance abuse to bring about the much-needed behavioural changes.
“The role of police in this trajectory can never be underestimated.
“With the pace at which drugs and their use are spreading across the world like veld fire, there is no doubt that if we had no strong police force like our Zimbabwe Republic Police, we could by now resemble Jamaica or other drug-infested states.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have no kind words for drug dealers, drug lords and drug ladies, whose appetite for money drives them to push all nature of drugs to virtually all ages.
“Their days are numbered as we move to press for harsher judicial sentences for them.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter