The ManicaPost
Moffat Mungazi
Post Reporter
IN typical conformation to the adage that “you cannot correct what you are not willing to confront”, Zimbabwe’s stance on the drug and substance abuse plague is unequivocal confirmation of how the country is standing firm in combating and ending the scourge.
The affliction is blighting the society, becoming a serious social and health problem that many communities countrywide are grappling with.
Calls for making the difference for a new experience through the anti-drugs drive have, therefore, been growing louder by the day.
The Second Republic has thrown down the gauntlet.
“Drug abuse has become a menace in our society, which is a cancer that threatens the lives of many. Government, through its organs, is working tirelessly to address this problem and to win this war, we need to be united,” President Mnangagwa is on record as saying.
The clarion call is as clear as daylight.
Everyone needs to be actively involved.
Launching the anti-drug abuse campaign early last year, President Mnangagwa described the menace as cancerous.
The illegal practice has been declared a threat to national security and dealing with it decisively is, therefore, of paramount importance.
To achieve that end, Government this year availed a ZWL$500 million kitty for drug abuse fight under the mitigation fund as part of efforts by President Mnangagwa’s administration to accelerate high-impact activities in the fight against the problem.
Government has also been rolling out outpatient psycho-social support centres designed to provide screening and counselling services to people affected by drugs, including their families.
Recently, Cabinet agreed that all idle provincial Covid-19 isolation centres should be turned into rehabilitation hubs where attendant services will be provided in Government and private health institutions.
To steer and coordinate the activities on reduction and elimination of illegal substances use countrywide, Government established the National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse chaired by Defence Minister, Honourable Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.
Speaking after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Service Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the crackdown on drug abuse is ongoing.
Said Dr Muswere: “The National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse is continuing to intensify the fight against the scourge through its pillars, namely supply and reduction; demand reduction; harm reduction; treatment and rehabilitation; psycho-social support and community re-integration as well as media and information.”
To mitigate the impact of the scourge, which is showing signs of taking root, Government is escalating endeavours to counter its prevalence through various intervention measures involving its ministries.
Stakeholders in Manicland have also taken a cue from Government’s lead as they are stepping up their collective efforts to tackle the drug and substance abuse menace in the province through various prevention initiatives and treatment programmes targeting survivors and those affected for impactful outcomes.
This comes in the wake of law enforcement agents’ naming and shaming of 40 drug barons and peddlers across the country on Tuesday.
Among those named and shamed were a teenager and grandfather as well as men and women.
Provincial players from different sectors in Manicaland on Wednesday held an all-stakeholders workshop in Mutare to share notes on scaling up the battle against drug peddling and substance abuse.
Representatives from Government ministries, departments and agencies as well as faith-based organisations, business community, private voluntary organisations, local leadership and survivors of drug abuse attended the workshop.
No one above the law
Speaking at the event, Officer-in-Charge for Manicaland CID Drugs and Narcotics, Detective Inspector Nathaniel Mugawa, said law enforcement agents in the province are geared to tackle the peddling and use of illegal substances.
“The police force is leaving no stone unturned in bringing to book all drug barons in the Manicaland. We are carrying out blitzes to raid suspected peddlers and their bases across the province as part of the ongoing national crackdown on drug and substance abuse.
“There is no room for bad apples in our rank and file as we do not condone corruption. This is a serious challenge we are facing as a country, and there will be no catch and release in any way as we fight to tame this monster,” said Detective Inspector Mugawa.
He added that they are joining other stakeholders in sensitising communities on the scourge by means of mobile awareness campaigns.
Detective Inspector Mugawa urged the public to give leads or tip-offs by being whistleblowers and report to the police cases of drug peddling and substance abuse in their communities.
Catching them young
President Mnangagwa has described the drugs and substance abuse menace as cancerous
Addressing the same gathering, schools inspector for Mutare District, Mr Edson Mapungwana, said learning institutions have an important role to play in curbing the use of illicit drugs and substances among learners.
“Prevention is key in stemming this tide and catching them young while in school is important. This is why the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has introduced and is putting emphasis on guidance and counselling from early childhood development up to Advanced Level through the competence-based curriculum of Education 5.0. Government is investing a lot in the education sector, and we cannot afford to have that go down the drain and watch as learners waste away on drugs and other dangerous substances,” said Mr Mapungwana.
He called on teachers to act in loco parentis and ensure that learners do not use drugs and urged parents and guardians to monitor their children to guard against them falling into the vice.
Placing young people in national development discourse finds expression in the Youth, Sports and Culture cluster, which is one of the key pillars of the country’s transformation blueprint — National Development Strategy (NDS1).
Increasing social cohesion as well as a sense of national identity and pride by keeping them away from drugs is one of the major components of this theme.
Leaving no one, no place behind
Fighting the menace also requires a social development approach to prevent dysfunctional and disorderly communities.
Social Development Officer for Mutare District in the Department of Social Development, Mr Langton Marumbi, said drug and substance abuse derails Zimbabwe’s national aspiration of Vision 2030 to achieve an empowered and prosperous upper-middle income society by the Year 2030.
Said Mr Marumbi: “Drug and substance abuse has devastating social impact on individuals, families, communities and the country at large. Government’s commitment to tackling the menace has resulted in the National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse being decentralised from national level down to provincial, district and ward levels to integrate several and various stakeholders at different stages because their involvement and input is crucial in consolidating the multiple intervention programmes being put in place.”
Effectively rooting out the scourge ensures that no one and no place is left behind as the country steers towards economic development and social transformation, added Mr Marumbi.
In her remarks on the sidelines of the all-stakeholders workshop, Chikanga Ward Six councillor, Councillor Sekai Mukodza, called for more community initiatives in combating drug and substance abuse.
She said increased participation by the target population as well as parents and guardians can go a long way in reducing drug abuse prevalence in the society.
“It takes the whole community to raise a child properly, and the onus is upon all of us to uphold drug-free societies. No one is safe from this scourge until we all are and charity begins at home,” said Councillor Mukodza.
Spreading anti-drugs gospel
A local clergyman, Reverend Canon Abel Waziweyi of Anglican Church, said besides their prayers for divine intervention, churches can be proactive in contributing to ending the use of illicit substances.
“As we minister the Gospel of God, we also need to preach about the dangers of drug and substance abuse. As part of concerted efforts by other stakeholders, we are also coming up with programmes, especially targeting youths, to take them off drugs and rally them to focus on nation building. We need drug-free societies and as religious groups, we also have a role to play in moulding responsible people in our communities. As churches, we stand ready to complement the initiatives of other stakeholders like Government, private voluntary organisations and schools to achieve this end,” said Reverend Waziweyi.
The man of cloth said as Zimbabwe confronts its drugs demons, being God-fearing and disciplined provides a solid foundation, especially for young people, to desist from taking drugs and keep society’s moral fabric intact.
A drug abuse survivor, who declined to be named, said former substance users need good social support systems to prevent them from relapsing after rehabilitation.
“I got into drugs because of peer pressure. After being hooked on for some time, I eventually got help from my close circle that included family and church. However, this was not an easy path to take owing to the expenses and other issues that cropped up.
“With the support I received, coupled with my own resolve to quit, I was rescued from the drug dungeon. It was a process that required focus and determination. I have now managed to turn a corner and I am willing to be actively involved in advocating prevention of drug use as well as rehabilitation and treatment of those affected” he said.
He stressed the need for requisite establishment of more rehabilitation centres across Manicaland that offer free services or at affordable charges.
