Bulawayo (New Ziana)-President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday urged the private sector to partner the government and local authorities in providing infrastructure and facilities for sports and healthy lifestyles to reduce the use of drugs and other substances by the youths.
He made the remarks while officiating at the Drug and Substance Abuse and Economic Development Conference Towards a Drug Free Nation for Attainment Of Vision 2030 which was held at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) grounds.
The conference was facilitated by a group of youths under the banner “Vision 2030” following the successful hosting of its inaugural “Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo, Young Labour Conference” in December last year.
Running under the theme “Creating a young people led economy by 2030, through fighting drug and substance abuse”, the conference was attended by youths drawn from various sectors of the economy.
“Reducing the demand for drugs and substances through promoting sports and health lifestyles must be encouraged,” President Mnangagwa said.
He said the government had scaled up the fight against drug and substance abuse and would not allow their proliferation as their corrosive effects posed a threat to the country’s independence, freedom and sovereignty.
Further, he said, the devastating effects of drugs and substance abuse had the potential to undermine the gains that the Second Republic had made as well as the future prosperity and development of the country.
“As such, my government is determined to ensure a Zimbabwe free of drug and substance abuse. We can only prosper as a people when we have a healthy, sound, and responsible society, particularly youths,” he said.
President Mnangagwa praised youths under the banner the Vision 2030 Movement for complimenting government efforts in stemming the scourge of drug and substance abuse in the country.
“It is commendable that the conference is being attended by various stakeholders who include youths, law enforcement sector, churches, cultural and community leaders, health experts as well the private sector and media fraternity,” he said.
He the since Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Drug Substance abuse was established to coordinate the fight against the scourge, robust strategies had been deployed to curb production, manufacturing and distribution of drugs.
All arms of Government would continue to expunge every point along the supply chain and destination of illicit drugs and substances including chemicals used for manufacturing and processing of various synthetic drugs and harmful substances, he said.
President Mnangagwa said the ZW$500 million that the government availed under the Drug and Substance Abuse Mitigation Fund would accelerate high impact activities and results in the fight to end drug abuse.
He said on its part, the government was rolling out outpatient Psycho-social support centres designed to provide screening and counselling services, as well as awareness and prevention services to people affected by drugs and their families.
New Ziana
