Drug-related admissions now account for 57% of all cases in Zimbabwe’s mental health institutions, according to Wilson Box, head of the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network.
The organization operates in eight of the nation’s ten provinces, aiming to increase awareness about the dangers of drug use.
Box paints a grim picture: “In many neighborhoods, drug dealing is rampant — you’re likely to find at least one house involved in drug peddling for every four. The situation is worsened by the emergence of powerful and unregulated homemade brews whose contents remain largely unknown.”
He warns that the crisis is far from over, showing no signs of easing.
The Human Cost: Why Youth Turn to Drugs
Zimbabwean youth often cite personal struggles such as unemployment and poverty as major reasons for substance use.
Tawanda Murepa, founder of the Young People Mental Health Trust in Harare, notes that social stigma makes it difficult for young people to speak up or seek help. He advocates for a compassionate, educational approach to prevention, stressing the need to understand the underlying reasons behind drug use.
“Recovery isn’t the same for everyone,” Murepa explains. “A person’s mindset, genetic makeup, duration of drug use, and the type of substance all influence how difficult it is to quit. So it’s best not to start at all.”
He adds that rehabilitation should be seen as a last resort, emphasizing the importance of early intervention before dependence becomes deeply rooted.
Finding Hope in Recovery
Some individuals have managed to overcome addiction and now work to help others. Givas Chirinda, 26, began using drugs in 2011 but has been sober for three years. He now mentors youth in Harare, encouraging them to take gradual steps toward recovery.
“You don’t need to scare people into quitting,” he says. “Start by acknowledging their struggle. If someone uses 10 units of a drug, suggest they reduce to nine, then slowly to six — and track how they feel.”
Givas also believes addressing root causes like boredom and joblessness is key to preventing relapse. He supports community-based self-employment initiatives, such as small-scale farming, which provide structure and purpose to idle youth.
The Role of Detox and Professional Support
Sister Hendrina Chitsama, who works in drug rehabilitation, emphasizes that many users attempt to quit without undergoing detoxification, which she views as a critical step in recovery.
“Detox is not just about flushing the drugs out of the system — it’s a psychological and emotional reset,” she explains. “True healing begins once the body and mind are cleansed. Skipping this step often leads to relapse.”
Government’s New Strategy
Recognizing the severity of the crisis, President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently launched a national campaign to raise over $77 million USD to tackle substance abuse. The plan includes establishing over 60 rehab centers and deploying a specialized team to coordinate efforts.
Officials and community leaders are hopeful but caution that the program’s success will depend on strong implementation.
They call for enhanced law enforcement to dismantle drug networks, upgraded treatment centers, and the separation of drug patients from general mental health wards. Additionally, they stress the need for trained addiction specialists, more detox resources, and a nationwide effort to combat stigma surrounding addiction.
ALSO READ : Over 600 Businesses Nabbed in Nationwide Counterfeit Crackdown
SOURCE-NewZimbabwe.com
