Zimbabwe continues to grapple with the growing scourge of drug and substance abuse, a crisis that has claimed many young lives and fueled widespread addiction.
In collaboration with the courts, law enforcement agencies have intensified their crackdown on offenders to curb the availability and circulation of harmful substances.
The recent conviction of popular dancehall artist Nyasha Reginald Mano, widely known as Ras Pompy, highlights the seriousness with which authorities are tackling the issue.
Ras Pompy was sentenced to six months in prison after being found in possession of illegal cough syrups. He was convicted of contravening the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act following a trial before Harare magistrate Mr. Gamuchirai Gore.
According to the prosecutor, Mrs. Mandirasa Chigumra, the incident occurred on July 16, 2025, at around 11 a.m. Detectives from the CID Drugs Harare spotted a black Honda Fit, registration number AGS 6699, stuck in traffic along Kambuzuma Road. The vehicle was already flagged in their database as one used for supplying drugs in Harare.
The court heard that when detectives signaled Ras Pompy to stop, he sped off into Rugare suburb, prompting a high-speed chase that ended when his car crashed into a metal pole. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of about 100 bottles of cough syrup with an estimated street value of US$396. The haul included 24 x 100ml bottles of Broncleer cough syrup, 20 x 100ml bottles of Benylin cough syrup, and 55 x 100ml bottles of Astra Pain cough syrup.
This case underscores Zimbabwe’s intensifying fight against drug and substance abuse. Authorities are sending a strong message that no one regardless of social standing or popularity is above the law. As the country confronts this growing public health and security challenge, such prosecutions serve as a reminder of the urgent need for collective efforts by the government, communities, and individuals to protect the nation’s youth and secure a healthier future.
