Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
THE National Drug and Substance Abuse Resource Mobilisation Campaign has received buy-in from various stakeholders, some of whom have pledged financial resources towards fighting the vice.
While the President’s speech during the launch of the National Drug and Substance Abuse Resource Mobilisation Campaign in Harare this Friday laid out the policy and strategic framework, the voices from the ground, those helping implement and sustain the vision, amplified the urgency.
Among those who responded to the call were cabinet ministers, prominent businesspeople, corporate leaders and faith leaders, many of whom made financial pledges to support the rehabilitation and treatment centres identified across the country.
Businessman, Wicknell Chivayo, committed US$1 million while Mabvvuku legislator, Cde Pedzisayi Sakupwanya, vowed to surpass Chivayo’s contribution, signalling strong private sector involvement in the national campaign.
In addition, numerous corporates donated in cash, while others adopted rehabilitation centres across various provinces to support their refurbishment and operational needs.
The total value of pledges made at the event exceeded US$3 million against a target of US$77 million for six years.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe, who is also the Vice Chairperson of the Drug and Substance Abuse Inter-ministerial Committee, highlighted progress made since the launch of the Multi-Sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Action Plan on June 26, last year.
“A lot has been achieved since His Excellency the President put in place this national inter-ministerial task force on drug and substance abuse. We came up and developed the National Action Plan, which was launched by the President, and thereafter, we set up a number of other sub-committees within the task force.
“Those sub-committees were tasked to implement the action plan in accordance with the seven pillars that were articulated in the meeting, among them is demand reduction, rehabilitation, and supply reduction. So each and every sub-committee deals with one pillar with awareness being run through the Minister of Information and other programmes that are being developed by the Minister of Women Affairs, Minister of Youth and so on,” Honourable Kazembe said.
“The supply reduction is an area which the police enforcement agents are focusing on in ensuring that we deal with those who are supplying the drugs, the drug lords. We have accounted for those who are involved in that business, and as alluded to in my speech, more than 30 000 people have been arrested and accounted for.
“The committee has identified about 67 centres to be converted into rehabilitation centres, some of which have been taken up by well-wishers. Bitumen, for example, have taken up Plum Tree and Delta has taken up a number of such centres. A number of corporates have adopted rehabilitation centres which they are refurbishing, and we are now resource mobilising, because there’s a lot that is required.
“Government alone may not be able to do it. This problem is a menace to the entire nation. It needs a holistic approach, all citizens of this country have a responsibility in this fight against drug and substance abuse.”
Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, said the resource mobilisation drive had revitalised efforts to operationalise the centres.
“We have 67 centres that have been identified to convert to rehabilitation centres, and so far, only four centres have been converted and are already functional, which includes Wilkins, which has just been completed. This resource mobilisation makes our life much better, firstly, because if we get all the centres rehabilitated, it means we can start functioning well. Also, the pledges that were done by the church representatives for counsellors will go a long way because as a ministry, we don’t have enough of those.”
Public Health Advisor to the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva, praised Zimbabwe’s progress.
“As a nation, we are very proud and we pride ourselves in saying we are very organised, and that’s because of the leadership that we continue to get from His Excellency, our President. Last year in June, he made sure that he supported us in launching the Drug and Substance Abuse National Strategy, 2024 to 2030.
Representing faith-based communities, Archbishop Chido Tapera Mapungwana of the Jesus Church underscored the church’s role in the response.
“We are happy for today because we have been mobilising to seek resources that can help in all the rehab centres, and I am happy that we are one of those institutions that have people who are offering professional expertise. The statistics are very sad, 57 percent of our youth in Zimbabwe are now engaged in substance abuse. So we are trying by all means as religious leaders to give that pastoral care. We give free counselling, we go into communities carrying out awareness campaigns, and we are grateful that today’s pledges will translate into action.”
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the campaign was testimony to the government’s commitment to safeguarding the future.
“Your Excellency, I want to thank all the participants, members of the fourth estate, for ensuring that the nation is educated, informed, and awareness is registered and raised as we fight against this menace which threatens the youth. Your launch today for resource mobilisation is testimony of your commitment to the future of our country, to the journey and the vision that you clearly enunciated.”
As Zimbabwe confronts this growing crisis, resources, collaboration, and compassion will be the foundation for reclaiming a generation at risk and building a healthier, safer nation, in line with the country’s Vision to attain an upper-middle-income society status by 2030.
