Staff Reporter
Government has intensified its fight against drug and substance abuse through a series of law enforcement operations and youth empowerment initiatives.
Speaking at the post-Cabinet briefing, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, DrJenfan Muswere said, as part of surveillance enhancement efforts, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) received five drones from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for use at border posts to combat cross-border trafficking.
“In a decisive show of enforcement, 206 nationwide raids were conducted, resulting in the dismantling of 39 drug bases and the arrest of 1,445 suspects. Authorities named and shamed 41 drug kingpins, who were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 12 months to 15 years,” said Minister Muswere.
The Liquor Licensing Board conducted 461 inspections, confirming 429 as licensed. The 32 unlicensed establishments were fined US$40 each.
On the rehabilitation and prevention front, Government focused on youth empowerment as a key deterrent to substance abuse. The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training reached out to 212,426 young people with awareness campaigns, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship training.
“A total of 17,349 youths were directly empowered through various programmes, including fish farming, the Mbire Goat Project, the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme, and financial training facilitated by Empower Bank and Tonganyika Trust.
In a show of presidential support, His Excellency President Dr E.D. Mnangagwa handed over tipper trucks purchased under the US$2 million Presidential Youth Fund, targeting young entrepreneurs in construction, transport, and mining,” said Minister Muswere.
Meanwhile, 1,907 youths graduated under the Youth Service in Zimbabwe, with a further 1,844 trainees, including 70 drug abuse survivors, currently undergoing rehabilitation and skills development.
Nationwide outreach continued through multiple ministries, with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education engaging over 1 million pupils, and other ministries reaching tens of thousands more.
Under the Presidential Empowerment Scheme, youths also benefited from 662 heifers, 31,000 chicks, and 890,000 fingerlings, further strengthening livelihoods in agriculture and fisheries.
