Story by Oleen Ndori
GOVERNMENT says it has intensified efforts to dismantle illicit drug supply networks, with nearly 3 000 suspects arrested and taken before the courts as authorities scale up the national response to drug and substance abuse.
The developments emerged during this week’s Post-Cabinet Media Briefing held in Harare this Tuesday, where ministers outlined progress on key programmes linked to Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 agenda.
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Zhemu Soda, said Cabinet extensively reviewed progress under the national strategy to combat drug and substance abuse.
“The Zimbabwe National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse is implementing a Multi-Sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan (2024-2030), which is tailored to mitigate and ultimately eliminate the drug and substance abuse scourge in Zimbabwe. The Committee coordinates actions across Government Ministries, law enforcement agencies and the private sector, and seeks to achieve set targets through seven strategic pillars, as follows: Supply Chain Reduction; Demand Reduction and Prevention; Harm Reduction, Treatment and Rehabilitation; Psycho- Social Support and Community Re-integration; Resource Mobilisation and Economic Strengthening; Media and Communication; and Legal and Policy Reforms,” he said.
“The Committee is successfully disrupting illicit supply networks and has achieved significant milestones as per the following selected highlights. A total of 2 889 accused persons were arraigned before the courts and 381 convictions were secured. Approximately 453 drug suppliers, 2 436 individual end-users, and 31 drug bases were dismantled in the selected districts of Manicaland and Mashonaland West Provinces; Drugs and illicit substances valued at approximately ZiG79 931 130.00 were confiscated. These included crystal meth, cocaine, ecstasy tablets, dagga, khat and unregistered medicines including cough syrups; and removal of 32 children living and working on the streets.”
Cabinet also reviewed progress under the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), which is implementing an integrated whole-of-government approach to improve access to clean water and sanitation services.
“Inter-Ministerial Committee on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) also known as the WASH National Committee is implementing an integrated multi- sectoral and Whole-of-Government approach for sectoral policy and strategy development. The Committee is also implementing a number of projects and programmes, and the following notable milestones have been achieved in the following broad areas: Development of a multiplicity of sectoral policy interventions such as the National Sanitation and Hygiene Policy and Strategy; WASH Compact; WASH in Health Care facilities; Insurance Strategy for rural water supplies and others.
“Access to potable water in rural areas improved from 71% in 2016 to 81% in 2025. Access to sanitation facilities improved from 63% in 2016 to 65% in 2025; and Basic hygiene improved from 8% in 2016 to 11.9% in 2025. Regarding urban water security, most centres have sufficient raw water to last until the next run-off season, as the raw water supply dams are 70% to 98% full. As at 14 May 2026, the national dam levels were at 93.1%, compared to 88% at the same time in 2025,” Dr Soda said.
Cabinet also deliberated and approved the hosting of the Creative Economies Expo at the ZITF in Bulawayo in October this year.
“Government, through the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture will host the “Kuzyana Sport and Creative Economy Expo” at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Grounds in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province from 7th to 11th October 2026. “Kuzyana” a Zimbabwean Tonga word meaning “to dance” or “to play- kusobaana” serves as the perfect unifying title for the inaugural Sport-Creative Economy Expo. The Expo seeks to position Zimbabwe as a regional hub for sport and creative economy development by 2030, while unlocking the economic potential of the two sectors. The Expo will run under the theme “ Kuzyana: Towards Vision 2030 through Sports and Creative Industries,” Minister Soda stated.
As June 3 fast approaches for elections for non-permanent seats to the United Nations Security Council, cabinet also deliberated progress that the country has made with regards to its bid; Zimbabwe’s participation at Expo 2027 Belgrade along with the economic activities within the first quarter of 2026.
