Zimbabwe pushes for global coordination to fight drugs
Story by ZBC Reporter
ZIMBABWE has called for enhanced international cooperation to combat the spike in trafficking of dangerous drugs that have affected millions of youths across the globe.
Illicit drugs such as crystal meth and fentanyl are among the two top drugs medical experts fear will drive a zombie apocalypse across the world.
At the mercy of these drugs are youths who appear to be oblivious to the dark reality they are facing.
At the high-level segment of the 67TH Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) currently underway in Vienna, Austria, Zimbabwe says it is fully committed to international coordination to fight this pandemic, given the cross-border and global nature of drug trafficking.
Zimbabwe is among nations participating at this global pedestal that is seeking to end the illicit drug across.
“Zimbabwe has collaborated with international organisations such as the UNODC in enhancing the country’s ability to respond to synthetic drug-related challenges in line with our international obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol, the Convention of Psychotropic Substances of 1971 and the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988. My government remains committed to playing its part in confronting this phenomenon in all its facets and dimensions,” said the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe.
Minister Kazembe also noted the strategies implemented by Zimbabwe to combat the illicit drug crisis.
“The President, His Excellency Cde Dr E.D. Mnangagwa set up a National Taskforce on Drug and Substance Abuse in April 2022 with a mandate to tackle this phenomenon through the following pillars; Supply Reduction, Demand Reduction, Harm Reduction, Treatment and Rehabilitation, Community Reintegration and Policy and Legal Enforcement,” he said.
He added, “This intervention exemplifies our eagerness to continue to strengthen national institutions and efforts towards addressing the world drug problem, in pursuit of tangible progress towards achieving the commitments outlined in the 2019 Ministerial Declaration.”
Zimbabwe also outlined plans to establish a National Drug and Substance Agency, expected to be fully operational by the end of 2024, as well as allocate a minimum of US$1.5 million towards the nation’s drug and substance abuse programmes for this year.
