Harare, (New Ziana) – In a decisive move aimed at tackling the country’s escalating drug and substance abuse crisis, Cabinet on Tuesday approved the National Drug and Substance Abuse Control and Enforcement Agency Bill.
The landmark piece of legislation will establish a specialized agency to coordinate both enforcement and rehabilitation efforts nationwide.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare.
“The primary purpose of the Bill is to establish a specialised National Drug and Substance Abuse Control and Enforcement Agency, tasked with enforcing laws related to drug trafficking and substance abuse,” said Dr. Muswere.
The development comes against the backdrop of a growing national emergency.
The country has witnessed a sharp rise in drug and substance abuse, particularly among the youth, with substances such as crystal methamphetamine (mutoriro), cough syrups containing codeine, marijuana, and illicit brews wreaking havoc in communities.
The crisis has been exacerbated by organised criminal networks, some with international links, which have established sophisticated supply chains across the country.
Minister Muswere acknowledged the severity of the situation, noting that the Bill was a response to “the growing concern of widespread drug peddling, fuelled by organised networks with sophisticated international distribution systems, and the alarming rise in drug and substance abuse.
The new agency, once established, will comprise two main divisions—one focused on enforcement and the other on rehabilitation and social support.
The Enforcement Division will be responsible for leading national drug enforcement operations, ensuring compliance with drug laws, and implementing counter-trafficking strategies. Meanwhile, the Social Services Intervention Division will coordinate support services such as counselling, vocational skills training, and access to rehabilitation programmes—key tools for reintegrating recovering addicts into society.
Crucially, the proposed law will also expand the definition of dangerous drugs to include a wider range of harmful substances, reflecting the evolving landscape of synthetic and illicit drugs now circulating on the black market.
The approval of the Bill is part of the government’s broader anti-drug campaign, led by the National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse, which operates under the Office of the President and Cabinet. Over the past two years, this multi-sectoral response has included school outreach, community awareness campaigns, and arrests of suspected traffickers.
New Ziana
