Zimbabwe rolls out drug test kits to police posts

Published: 5 hours ago

The Government has rolled out a comprehensive national strategy to curb drug and substance abuse, including the distribution of testing kits to police posts, clinics, and hospitals - while abolishing fines for offenders in favour of mandatory court appearances and harsher jail terms.

National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also the Minister of Defence, said the measures mark a decisive escalation in the country's fight against the crisis.

"We have imported test kits, and from next week, we will deploy them to clinics, police posts, and hospitals so that we can assist those in need of help," she said.

Testing will be voluntary, with individuals encouraged to present themselves or be referred by traditional or church leaders for rehabilitation support.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year elevated the inter-ministerial committee on drug and substance abuse into a national multi-sectoral body, bringing together government departments, traditional leaders, churches, NGOs, and educational institutions under seven coordinated pillars.

Muchinguri-Kashiri said the strategy places special focus on cutting drug supply routes through tighter border control and technology-driven policing.

"Smugglers are using sophisticated methods - drones, airports, and unmanned border areas. We have therefore invested in technology, trained security teams, and deployed sniffer dogs to detect contraband," she said.

She added that lenient penalties had weakened deterrence, prompting legal reforms that now channel all drug-related cases through the courts.

"In the past, those arrested were fined as little as US$30. We have abolished that system. There will be no fines - offenders now face up to 15 years' imprisonment," she said.

Special courts have since been established to handle drug-related offences, through coordination between the Judiciary Service Commission and the Prosecutor-General's Office.

Beyond enforcement, Government is expanding treatment and rehabilitation centres to assist users in recovery and reintegration. Minor cases will be handled at hospitals and clinics, while severe cases will be referred to specialised facilities.

"We recognise that many users are victims - some as young as eight years old. We are working with churches, clinics, and hospitals to provide treatment, harm reduction, and skills training," Muchinguri-Kashiri said.

"We also provide loan facilities to help rehabilitated individuals rebuild their lives."

Over the past few weeks, police have arrested hundreds of suspected peddlers, including several prominent figures, as authorities intensify efforts to curb the spread of drug and substance abuse nationwide.
- The Herald

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