By Cordilia Ncube
Mbizo 9 residential suburb in Kwekwe, has been identified as a major hotspot for ganja-related activities, with law enforcement conducting extensive raids in the area, a top government official revealed.
Speaking at a drug and substance abuse workshop recently, Minister of State for Midlands Province, Owen Ncube, revealed alarming statistics on drug use and outlined the government’s efforts to combat the growing crisis.
“During the period of January to October 2024, the Midlands Province Drug and Substance Supply Reduction Pillar identified 15 hotspots in Mbizo 9 where ganja cake is consumed. A total of 101 raids were conducted in the province, including Kwekwe, leading to 379 arrests,” Minister Ncube disclosed.
The minister highlighted the progress made through drug awareness campaigns targeting young people, a group identified as the most affected by substance abuse.
“The demand reduction pillar reached out to more than 365,000 youths through drug and substance awareness campaigns, while the treatment and rehabilitation pillar admitted 977 individuals. Furthermore, the community reintegration and psychosocial support pillar reached out to 1,900 people who use drugs, providing counseling and caregiving,” he explained.
He emphasized the damaging effects of drug and substance abuse on society, particularly among young people. “The most affected are the youth, a vital demographic dividend every nation bestows its hope and destiny upon,” he said.
Minister Ncube praised President Emmerson Mnangagwa for taking decisive action against drug and substance abuse by establishing strong institutional and regulatory frameworks.
“I would like to thank the President for timely realizing the threat posed by drug and substance abuse upon its emergence and responding accordingly through the establishment of robust institutional and regulatory frameworks. These bold and strategic policy decisions underpin the attainment of a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society earlier than 2030,” Ncube said.
“The Midlands Province applauds the new dispensation for recognizing and amplifying the role of the community in drug and substance abuse mitigation, just as innovation, modernization, and industrialization are being rolled out to ensure no one and no place is left behind,” he added.
Minister Ncube acknowledged the challenges faced in addressing the drug crisis, including gaps in regulatory frameworks and inadequate resources for treatment and rehabilitation.
“The Midlands Province encountered its fair share of challenges. Among them are regulatory gaps, as some substances are not identified as drugs in our laws. There is also a shortage of drugs for treatment, and most victims are sent to psychiatric institutions due to inappropriate rehabilitation centers,” he said.
He further noted the ongoing problem of drug smuggling, which the government is actively confronting, despite donor fatigue impacting some efforts.
