YOUTH Empowerment and Development minister, Tinoda Machakaire, says his ministry is escalating the fight against drug abuse as he expressed concern over how the vice was wrecking havoc in families and destroying the lives of young people.
Machakaire, who made the remarks during a strategic planning workshop for the ministry in Harare, said there was a need for systematic and sustainable responses against drug and substance abuse.
"The Government is worried about the problem of drugs and substance abuse among young people," Machakaire said.
"The ministry has been mandated to lead the Drug and Substance Abuse Demand Reduction Pillar.
"Therefore, we need to develop a clear strategy, in conjunction with the ministries of Health and Child Care and Public Service Labour and Social Welfare, on drug and substance abuse. I further want to see our ministry taking a leadership role in research and mitigation of the drugs and substance abuse problem."
In 2021, President Emmerson Mnangagwa set up an inter-ministerial committee which came up with the Zimbabwe National Drug Master Plan (ZNDMP 2020 to 2025) and Treatment and Rehabilitation Guidelines of Alcohol and Substance Use Disorder of Zimbabwe (TRGASUD ZIM).
A report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on mental health among young people in the African region notes that the country has the highest number of 15-19 year-olds who engage in heavy episodic drinking.
Statistics compiled in 2021 by the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network revealed that 60 per cent of psychiatric admissions were due to drug abuse.
- Drug, alcohol abuse impacting on children
- Midlands registers spike in drug abuse
- Chanter Dhadza D in drug abuse drive
- COVID-19 lockdowns fuelled drug abuse among learners
Keep Reading
Eighty per cent of these were people aged between 16 to 25, including schoolgirls.
Machakaire also said his ministry will not tolerate the abuse of youth empowerment funds.
"We are stewards of Government resources," he said.
"The money that we are using is mostly tax payer’s money. Let us use Government resources responsibly, the way we are responsible with resources for our family, businesses, churches or other organisations we are involved in.
"I will not tolerate abuse of public funds or abuse of public assets."
