Lupane – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has instructed the country’s security services to act decisively to flush out and dismantle illegal drug syndicates, to ensure Zimbabwe is not turned into a drug haven.
Illegal drug use in Zimbabwe has taken root in recent years especially among youths who are using hard drugs such as crystal meth.
In response, President Mangangagwa said he had directed all security arms to decisively deal with the drug menace.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police in collaboration with other security agencies have launched an anti-drug campaign codenamed “No to dangerous drugs and illicit substances: See something, say something”.
The operation, which has netted over 1500 offenders, is designed to flush out criminal drug syndicates behind the current drug epidemic.
“Meanwhile, I have directed that the Police and other security arms to act decisively in flushing out drug syndicates, as well as dismantling the associated supply chains. No stone will be left unturned. Communities are urged to expose those who harbour drug peddlers and merchandisers. No one is above the law,” he said at the National Youth Day celebrations held under the theme: “Drug and Substances abuse; A threat to Vision 2030; every community’s responsibility.”
“Zimbabwe is not a drug and illegal substance producer or peddler and trends to do so will be expunged to defend our country and the youth, who are our future. “Security at the country’s ports of entry is being tightened to plug the movement and proliferation of harmful drugs and substances.”
He added:”At the human resource capacity building level, training within the Zimbabwe Republic Police and other arms of security as well as health professionals on drug and substance abuse case management, screening and tracking is being prioritised.”
To augment security efforts, President Mnangagwa said a review of legislation and related policy measures on drug and substance abuse was receiving urgent attention.
At government level, an Inter-Ministerial Committee was scaling up the implementation of multi- pronged strategies in response to the drugs and substance abuse scourge.
Authorities within learning institutions, he said, must ensure that systems are in place to mitigate against the use and peddling of drugs.
“Unruly behaviour related to drug and substance use must be dealt with decisively within our education institutions.
“Overall, responsive and holistic strategies must be rolled out across sectors and societal levels in both public and private institutions, to harness our youthful demographic dividend towards the realisation of Vision 2030,” he said.
“During the 2022 celebrations held at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe Square in Harare, the youth appealed to Government to establish a Fund to mitigate drug and substance abuse. As a listening Administration, we heard your plea and established a Fund towards rolling out operational pillars of the Task Force, across all provinces. This should see us realise a drug and substance abuse free society, anchored by young people who are united, hardworking, enterprising and focussed on building our motherland, Zimbabwe.”
President Mnangagwa said government was also alive to the need to provide adequate treatment, care, rehabilitation, pyscho-social support and re-integration support for druge users.
“To this end, my government is setting up specialised medical facilities to provide services to drug addicts and survivors of substance abuse. Equally, greater focus is being given to strengthen the delivery of quality services in the mental health sub-sector and provision of related psycho-social support nets,” said the President.
