DELAYS by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Rechabites, to deploy resources has stalled the construction of a drug addicts rehabilitation centre in Cowdray Park, it has emerged.Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution secretary Paul Nyoni revealed the development in an interview with Southern Eye.
Nyoni said when the groundbreaking ceremony of the rehabilitation centre was conducted, Rechabites offered to assist with material for construction of the centre.“The minister was approached by the company and they pledged to assist with resources to build the centre. This is an initiative from the province but they are delaying and we are still waiting for them to tell us what might be stopping them from bringing the resources,” Nyoni said.
However, Rechabites executive director, Mthandazo Ndlovu, said the project was government-owned but confirmed that they had offered to assist with resources.
“I confirm that we offered to help and the land is government owned. I am also waiting for the higher office to say when. Yesterday (Thursday last week), I went to the site just to check and saw the ground being occupied by the AFM church,” Ndlovu said.
The government in July last year said it was constructing a rehabilitation centre in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park high-density suburb as Zimbabwe battles with the scourge of drug and substance abuse.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Judith Ncube said there were plans to ensure that every district has a drug rehabilitation centre. Zimbabwe has witnessed an increase in drug and substance abuse in recent years.
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However, there are few public drug rehabilitation centres while the privately-owned ones are known for expensive services beyond the reach of many people.
According to reports, the country’s largest psychiatric referral hospital, Ingutsheni, is struggling to cope with the swelling number of patients related to drug and substance abuse.In 2021, hospital authorities said at least 40% of new admissions were young male drug abusers and that it planned to set up a drug addict rehabilitation centre at the psychiatric institution.