The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
ACCORDING to a recent research carried out by the Health Professionals Empowerment Trust in Zimbabwe (HPETZ), about 50 percent of admissions in the country’s mental institutions were attributed to drug and dangerous substance misuse.
The research further states that over 80 percent of people admitted in mental institutions due to drug and dangerous substance disorders are aged between 16 and 40, most of them being males.
Youths are singled out as the most affected group in the country and a stroll in any of Mutare city’s suburbs will prove this.
Young adults abusing drugs end up being admitted in mental health institutions for rehabilitation.
The research also revealed that some young people turn to drugs and dangerous substances due to idleness after leaving school.
Zimbabwe’s challenge of illicit substance use, especially among the youths, reportedly increased dramatically during the Covid-19 era, and of particular concern was the upward trend in drug/substance use.
Commonly used substances in the country include methamphetamine (crystal meth) glue, bronclear, mangemba, cane sprit, marijuana and codeine, according to the Society for the Study of Addiction.
President Mnangagwa last year set up an inter-ministerial committee to tackle the issue of drug abuse, declaring it an emergency.
The inter-ministerial task force on drug and substance abuse is chaired by Dr Agnes Mahomva.
The pillars of the task force are the supply reduction, demand reduction, harm reduction, treatment and rehabilitation, psycho-social support and community re-integration, as well as media and information pillars.
Under the supply reduction pillar, police intensified its raids and arrests of drug dealers across the country and recorded a sharp increase.
Presenting last week’s post-Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere said Government had made drug awareness campaigns mandatory to many institutions, including Higher and Tertiary Education institutions.
“In terms of awareness programmes, a total of 715 515 people were reached through various activities, including Higher and Tertiary Education institutions mandatory awareness campaigns, and engaging artists and sportspersons as ambassadors.
“Government is also developing standard information dissemination tools that will be used by the sub-national structures, traditional leadership and religious organizations in conscientizing families and communities. Guidance and counselling sessions as well as maintenance of a safe school environment continue to be a priority for Government,” he said.
Dr Muswere also urged all citizens to participate in efforts to fight drug abuse at all levels.
He said this will strengthen the anti-drug and substance abuse programme as everyone needs to play their part in the fight against the scourge.
Cabinet also agreed that sub-national structures incooporating traditional and religious leaders will help in fighting drug and substance abuse as they are the people on the ground.
“Raids and operations against drug suppliers, dealers and peddlers are regularly conducted, and a total of 5 367 offenders were arrested during the period 7th July to 23rd September, 2023.
“This is a sharp increase on the 4 328 arrests made for the whole year of 2022. A total of 81 bases, where drug users and peddlers converge to sell and consume drugs, were destroyed during the period under review.
“To show that it is everyone’s duty to fight the scourge, many boards and authorities have joined the fight, with the Liquor Licensing Board reducing unlicensed liquor outlets, vendors and peddlers as well as licensed outlets operating outside the agreed terms and conditions.
“Going forward, Cabinet agreed to enact the relevant legislation for the establishment of a Drug Elimination Agency to govern and coordinate all national activities on drug and substance abuse,” said Dr Muswere
Building on this, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) recently cancelled seven licences for wholesalers and deregistered one as they were selling some or most of the above-mentioned drugs to the public.
In an interview, Acting Chief Mutambara said as a traditional leader, he had activated the relevant pillars that will help in the fight against the scourge in his area.
“I believe that it is our duty as traditional leaders to help these children by raising awareness before they start using drugs. As a result, I have been very active in preaching awareness campaigns in schools in my area, churches as well as during my court sittings.
“We are leaving no one and no stones unturned because this menace has affected our children. You will find that most young men are spending their time at business centres abusing various drugs and illicit brews. We are taking this scourge head on,” said Acting Chief Mutambara.
HPETZ programmes officer, Mr Aultus Murandu said they are going around the nation conducting awareness campaigns and capacitating young people with enterprenurial skills.
“These youths are our future and if they are addicted, we will have a lost future. There is need for everyone to work together in fighting this menace and capacitate our youths before the situation gets worse,” he said.
In Mutasa, the organisation has trained more than 1 000 youths, 700 women and 300 men in nurse aide courses and provisional driving lessons as part of their anti-drug abuse campaign.
