Harare (New Ziana)-Zimbabwe is making strides in the fight against drug and substance abuse which has seen law enforcement agents making more arrests of peddlers and dealers by September this year as compared to the whole of last year.
Addressing the media in a post cabinet briefing on Wednesday, Minister
of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting service Jenfan Muswere said
cabinet heard that a total of 5 367 offenders were arrested during the
period from July 7 to September 23, 2023 which represents a sharp
increase on the 4 328 arrests made the whole of last year.
Muswere said the report was received from the National Committee of the
Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Drug and Substance Abuse chaired by
Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.
He added that a total of 81 bases, where drug users and peddlers
converged to sell and consume drugs, were destroyed during the period
under review.
Four Zimbabwe Republic Poplice Drugs and Narcotics Units have been
established at four border posts, namely Beitbridge, Victoria Falls,
Chirundu and Mutare to curtail the entyry of drugs intothe country, he
said.
“Inland posts have also been established at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe,
Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and Victoria Falls airports. New technologies like
drones are also being used to monitor the country’s borders in addition
to the traditional surveillance methods in order to reduce smuggling and
trafficking of drugs.
“Interventions by the Liquor Licensing Board have reduced unlicensed
liquor outlets, vendors and peddlers as well as licensed outlets
operating outside the agreed terms and conditions. These include
inspections of premises, investigations against public complaints and
cancellation of licenses,” said Muswere, adding that the Medicines
Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has cancelled 7 licenses for
wholesalers and deregistered one.
He said 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.
“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, as wellnas
engaging artists and sportspersons as ambassadors.
“The National Committee is 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 the Government,”
said Muswere.
He said under the Harm Reduction, Treatment and Rehabilitation Pillar,
drug rehabilitation services were provided in Government and private
health institutions where a total of 1 093 new patients were attended to
at mental health institutions.
“Pertaining to Psycho-Social Support and Community Re-integration, there
are two outpatient rehabilitation and psycho-social support centres in
Bulawayo and in Harare. Other activities under the pillar include
parenting programmes, online psycho-social support services, as well as
research and evidence gathering,” he added.
Muswere said among other measures Cabinet agreed, all idle Provincial
COVID-19 isolation facilities will be converted into multi-sectoral drug
rehabilitation centres and Dr. Agnes Mahomva will be appointed as the
National Coordinator of the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Drugs and
Substance Abuse.
New Ziana
