The Sunday Mail
Only a few decades ago, drug abuse was not a big thing in Zimbabwe.
Issues around substance abuse were those we learned of on international news casts and we hardly related to them.
Today, drugs, sex and alcohol are key features of a huge proportion of the population, especially in urban and peri-urban areas.
We have a level of social decadence that we cannot ignore.
What is the cost of these practices on our family units, social fabric and above all, our economy?
You may be thinking “what is the link between drugs and development?”
One point is indubitable: the influence of drugs in Zimbabwe is growing, drawing an ever-larger percentage of what should be an economically active population into a state of non-productive dependence that has serious health and financial implications.
The increase in reports of substance abuse-related crimes and traffic accidents are evidence that the drugs are a serious threat to our economic and social development.
A major conceptual roadblock if you may to addressing the issue on platforms broader than just law enforcement and health is the stigma attached to those involved in drug-related activities.
There is a perception that drug abuse is an activity engaged in solely by criminals or dysfunctional members of our society; a perception which is utterly misguided!
This is a problem that does not know social and economic status.
Furthermore, more often than not, the sources of drugs are well-off people.
So, perhaps, instead of the law enforcement agents expending most of their resources on the end users, it would make a lot of sense to pay more attention to tracing the source of the drugs.
We have to address loopholes in many sectors, from border control, transport, the revenue authority, the banking sector and dare I say perhaps even politicians.
The fact that the drugs industry affects multiple sectors is what makes it particularly detrimental to the nation.
The most common impact is that on the users, who not only risk mental disorder which limits their contribution to economic activities but also diverts funds they could have used to improve their standard of living.
That is money that is going into the pockets of drug peddlers.
Beyond the users, the economy suffers particularly because much of the funds from drug deals do not pass through formal financial systems.
Traffickers rarely bank money, and the entire transacting chain is untaxed.
There is another great danger.
Drugs generate incredible amounts of money. That means societies start being dominated by drug dealers.
Do we really want such people to have influence over social and economic policies?
The statistics provided by stakeholders involved in the fight against crime reveal a worrying situation: more than 100 cases of drug abuse every month in Harare alone!
The reality today is that four out of five school-going children abuse drugs at least once without the knowledge of their parents.
According to police, the statistics should be a cause of worry for the entire nation.
It is time the Education Ministry looks seriously into measures to prevent the entry of illegal substances onto school premises.
There is need to police the environs of schools as many predators lurk around our educational institutions waiting to lure children into substance abuse.
The schools’ curriculum should also dedicate time and space to discussing in an in-depth manner social issues affecting children.
The young are susceptible to crime as it can look glamorous from the outside.
The relationship between drug abuse and crime is a strong one: drug addicts turn to crime to finance their cravings and on the other hand people under the influence of drugs easily engage in violent and reckless behaviour.
Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba says between January and December 2015, 5 445 people were arrested on various drug-related charges.
She said people between ages 15 and 35 were the major users and abusers of drugs.
In all, 5 273 people were charged for varying offences which included importing, selling, manufacturing, possession and unlawful possession of dangerous drugs.
What does the future if Zimbabwe hold if the youth continue down this destructive path?
In 2018 we will hold national elections where the youth will contribute significantly to the percentage of voters.
Can we trust the youth to make sound decisions if their motivations are directed and influenced by drugs and alcohol?
Most importantly will the youth not become easy targets for rogue politicians who offer them drugs in exchange for their support or to unleash political violence?
For starters, the legislation needs to be revised as it currently provides too many loopholes for drug offenders and dealers to quickly go back to the streets without even forfeiting the money and assets gained from their illegal activities.
Secondly, we need to invest in state-of-the-art detection equipment at all entry points and adopt a zero tolerance approach to corruption at these areas.
The Ministry of Truth advises the youth to avoid contact with drugs on any level as addiction is easily reached.
It only takes one look at drug addicts to see that the short-term pleasures are not worth the long-term suffering resulting from substance abuse.
Use your time to invest in yourselves and your nation’s development.
Cde Jason Zhuwao is district chair of Zanu-PF Harare Central Youth League and CEO of Team Zanu-PF Live, the party organ for mass dissemination of information, research, mobilisation, networking, live updating of current affairs and e-media campaigning.
