Sidumisile Mabena
Rutendo Nyeve
THE Government has recovered narcotics/drugs with an estimated street value of ZWG3.4 billion over the past year, as it intensifies the war against drug and substance abuse.
This was revealed by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe in Parliament on Wednesday as he presented a comprehensive update on the Government’s aggressive crackdown on the illicit drug trade.
Minister Kazembe highlighted the extent of the enforcement operations conducted between February 2025 and February 2026.
He said security forces had conducted 60 large-scale enforcement operations, destroyed 326 bases used by drug syndicates and carried out 15,865 raids across the country.
He said those raids resulted in the apprehension of 3,738 suppliers.
The confiscated substances include cannabis, crystal meth, cocaine, restricted cough syrups and illicit brews, cumulatively valued at ZWG3,475,374,243.
“Drug and substance abuse has become a serious challenge in Zimbabwe and Government has responded with commensurate intensity
“It is for this reason that the country now has a dedicated framework with an Inter-Ministerial TaskForce to handle this issue,” said Minister Kazembe.
He attributed the success to a multi-pronged strategy that goes beyond routine patrols.
He highlighted that the Zimbabwe Republic Police has employed intelligence-led measures to dismantle supply chains.
“Allow me to reaffirm our commitment to strengthen and enforce legal frameworks that seek to curb the abuse and distribution of drugs and substances. My Ministry, through the Zimbabwe Republic Police, has employed intelligent-led measures that encompass undercover operations, raids and awareness campaigns as means to disrupt the drug supply chains across the country,” he said.
He further outlined the sophisticated tactics being utilised, including road and border patrols, drone surveillance, undercover operations, and enhanced airport deployments.
The Government is also leveraging regional and international cooperation to cut off smuggling routes.
“I think we have attained such a milestone achievement by utilising a number of strategies focused on territorial routes and destinations. These strategies include road and border patrols, carrying out of drone and undercover operations, putting in place airport deployments, seeking out regional and international cooperation,” he said.
While lauding the achievements, Minister Kazembe reiterated that the fight is far from over, vowing to intensify intelligence functions against all stakeholders involved in the illicit trade.
He emphasised that these evidence-led interventions would continue to ensure offenders face the full consequences of the law.
He appealled to the public and urged communities to partner with law enforcement agents.
“It is our intended outcome that these efforts would deter the would-be drug dealers from engaging in these activities. May I also take this opportunity to appeal to all Zimbabweans to work with the police by supplying information about drug supply chains which they may know. I also appeal to them to desist from engaging in drug and substance supply and use as we have already witnessed the negative effects of such acts,” he said.
Online Reporter