The ManicaPost
Senior Reporter
Some parts of Manicaland have well-known drug houses and open air drug markets, The Manica Post has established.
This comes as the police have intensified the fight against the sale and consumption of drugs with the launch of a crackdown against drug suppliers and peddlers countrywide.
The nationwide crackdown taking place under a special operation has seen several people, including a policeman, being arrested.
Dubbed “No to dangerous drugs and illicit substances: See something, say something”, the operation comes after Government instructed police to redouble their efforts against drug lords supplying unwanted substances to youths.
Despite this, there is still a long way to go in Manicaland.
The Manica Post understands that open air drug markets are operating in well-defined areas so that buyers and sellers can locate one another with ease.
When it comes to open drug scenes — gatherings of drug users who publicly consume and deal drugs — these are now a common sight in most suburbs and some areas within the periphery of the Central Business Districts of Mutare, Chipinge and Rusape.
Investigations conducted by The Manica Post revealed that in Mutare, a couple usually sells narcotics from the comfort of their Mercedes Benz which is usually parked outside the Roman Catholic Cathedral in the CBD.
Just outside Mims premises, at a car wash, known peddlers (names withheld) also sell their drugs in broad daylight.
Another well-known drug peddler operates at the Greenside Rank, also in the CBD.
A tuckshop in Chikanga that is located just after Musiyiwa Road as one goes towards World Bank Road operates 24 hours a day and has become a popular source for drugs for people drawn from all age groups.
Our fortnight long investigation also unearthed that Mutare’s own Queen of Meth (name withheld) who resides in Yeovil at a known drug house along Makoni Road has become a major supplier of drugs of all sorts to peddlers in the city.
Another drug house, usually frequented by youthful clients, is located along Jongwe Street in Palmerstone, Mutare.
In Chipinge, Gaza New Stands and Gaza ZBS sections have known drug peddlers that mainly sell marijuana.
Some of the dagga plants that were recovered by police in Rusape under the ongoing national clampdown on illegal drugs. So far, 54 arrests have been made across the province
In Rusape, some hotspots are in the CBD, Vengere (NE Park sheebens and tuckshops, as well as Vengere BC section) and Mabvazuva suburbs.
In fact, NE Park of Rusape is the hub of illicit beer, marijuana and other drugs in the town.
Unfortunately, calls for the police and council to shut down shebeens have fallen on deaf ears.
Once these people are intoxicated, they urinate and defecate in public spaces.
Sadly, efforts to thwart these illegal transactions and the subsequent consumption of drugs have not yielded much results as some rotten apples with the law enforcement agencies are allegedly taking bribes from peddlers and suppliers.
A peddler who operates in Mutare’s CBD said: “We are not in this alone. Personally, I have a well-known police officer (name withheld) who comes to get his dues every Monday. He does that with many more peddlers and suppliers in town. He made us believe that the money we give him is shared with some of his superiors at work.”
Zimbabwe Republic Police Officer Commanding Manicaland Province, Commissioner Priscilla Makotose told journalists at a Press briefing held at Mutare Central Police Station yesterday (Thursday) that 54 arrests have been made across the province in the ongoing national clampdown on illegal drugs.
The week-long crackdown on drug peddling and abuse started on Monday and comes to an end on Sunday.
“The accused were found in possession of varying amounts of dangerous drugs comprising of 115 plants of dagga, five 100ml of broncleer and Benyline codeine, 3.4 kilograms of dagga, 21.2 grams of crystal meth, 26 sex enhancing tablets and various amounts of medical tablets which were being sold on the streets with a combined street value of US$250 and $870 000,” said Commissioner Makotose
“Also recovered abandoned drugs comprise of nine 100ml broncleer, 100ml histulix, PP10, 67 sachets of dagga, apparatus for preparing dagga injections, lighters, and 28 200ml of Teku-teku,” she said.
Commissioner Makotose said the ongoing operation will escalate efforts to reduce abuse of dangerous drugs and illicit substances in the province.
“Today six of these accused person seated here are going to be taken to Mutare Magistrates’ Court with some of the drugs displayed here as exhibits.
“The operation will continue as we escalate efforts to reduce abuse of dangerous drugs and illicit substances abuse in the province.
“We hope to arrest and recover most drugs used in the province,” she said.
Government says the rounding up of drug kingpins will help save young people, many of whom are struggling with drugs.
Police have also said they will stop motorists at police check points and search them and their passengers.
