By Zachary Gava
Harare, (New Ziana) -City of Harare mayor Jacob Mafume has commended the government for strengthening partnerships with local authorities in the fight against drug and substance abuse, saying the support being extended to rehabilitation centres will bolster efforts to rescue young people from addiction and restore communities.
Mafume said this on Wednesday after Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe who is also vice chairperson of the National Committee on Drugs and Substance Abuse handed over food supplies to inmates at the City of Harare-owned Wilkins Rehabilitation Centre during a tour of the facility by Ministers and Deputy Ministers.
He described drug and substance abuse as one of the most pressing challenges in the country, adding it continues to rob Zimbabwe of its youthful potential.
“The drug issue is a national issue. It’s a serious threat. It’s tearing at the fabric of our nation, capturing the youths before they can become anything,” he said.
Mafume said the City of Harare greatly appreciates the support it continues to receive from central government, the provincial leadership and other stakeholders in running rehabilitation programs.
“We are very thankful for the assistance that we have received from central government, from the provincial government, and also the staff that are working in these various institutions and the various committees that have been set aside,” he said.
He said the presence of Ministers, Deputy Ministers and senior government officials at the rehabilitation centre reflected a united national resolve to confront the drug menace through coordinated interventions.
Mafume applauded the Wwhole-of-Government approach being spearheaded by the National Committee on Drugs and Substance Abuse, saying no single institution could effectively tackle the scourge on its own.
“We are very appreciative of the Whole-of-Government approach that we are now taking,” he said.
He said the City of Harare was committed to strengthening rehabilitation services and exploring sustainable funding options to improve the capacity of local authorities to respond to the growing challenge.
“We are going to redouble our efforts, look at more funding in terms of what we do, maybe try to see if there is a call to introduce a levy, like we did with the AIDS levy, to better meet some of the funding of local authorities to be able to tackle this problem in a more meaningful manner,” he said.
Mafume also acknowledged the contribution being made by the First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa through her Angel of Hope Foundation in rehabilitating people affected by drug and substance abuse.
“It is making a huge contribution to the province’s efforts,” he said.
Earlier, Kazembe said the donation to Wilkins Rehabilitation Centre marked the beginning of a nationwide program under which the government will visit rehabilitation centres in every province to provide support and monitor service delivery.
“This is the first of a series of visits to rehabilitation centres countrywide. We will be going to Mashonaland Central soon, then Mashonaland East, but eventually all provinces will be visited,” he said.
Kazembe said the government remained committed to supporting rehabilitation centres with food assistance while ensuring national rehabilitation policies are consistently implemented across the country.
“As Government we pledge not only support in terms of food provisions, but also that Government policies at the centres countrywide are being followed so that we keep on track,” he said.
The donation forms part of ongoing government efforts to strengthen rehabilitation services as the country intensifies its campaign against drug and substance abuse through prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
New Ziana
