Staff Reporter
MARONDERA- At a time the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is pushing for the amendment of the law to have jail terms imposed on all illegal drug and substance dealers without an option of a fine Mashonaland East has recorded 521 such cases in the first quarter of this year.
By calling for an amendment to the law, the Police are hoping that such a move will act as a deterrent to would be dealers who are currently getting away with paying fines before going back to their trade because the fines are a drop in an ocean compared to what they earn.
Speaking at a recent medical outreach programme by First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Angel of Hope Foundation, Provincial Medical Director (PMD) Dr Paul Matsvimbo said the statistics show that drug and substance abuse is now epidemic.
He said: “In the first quarter of this year, we have recorded 521 cases of drug and substance abuse induced psychosis. Fifty-five of those cases were females, with the remainder being males. To that end, community awareness campaigns by the First Lady have been essential.
“Rural areas in the province like Mudzi have not been spared by the scourge where 22 cases of drug-induced psychosis were recorded in the first quarter of the year. Amai in her campaigns, is not leaving anyone behind and the campaigns will go a long way to influence and engage communities to fight against drug and substance abuse.”
The campaigns, Dr Matsvimbo added, are giving families of the affected hope that drug and substance abuse can be conquered.
From January up to the end of March this year, the ZRP arrested 5 364 people, with 4 962 of them being generally the users holding small quantities while the drug dealers were released after paying deposit fines.
Even in the absence of proof of dealing in drugs, the police take holders of larger stocks of drugs, suspected to be dealers, to court and refuse to let them pay the deposit fines that a user with a single dose can often get away with.
At times, the courts have been allowing some possessors of larger amounts of drugs to pay fines, while others have been sentenced to serve jail terms.