President Mnangagwa Urges Zimbabweans to Fight Drug Abuse.
Zero Tolerance
“Zero drug tolerance and a drug-free Zimbabwe can only be attained with the involvement of the whole community”, a statement made by Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa made the remarks while officiating at the Drug and Substance Abuse and Economic Development Conference Towards a Drug Free Nation for Attainment Of Vision 2030 which was held at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) grounds.
The conference was facilitated by a group of youths running under the theme “Creating a young people led economy by 2030, through fighting drug and substance abuse”.
Intensified Fight Against Drugs
On the government’s part, President Mnangagwa declared that they had intensified the fight against drug abuse and substance misuse and would not permit its spread since its negative consequences constituted a threat to the independence, freedom, and sovereignty of the nation.
Moreover, Mnangagwa added that the government is rolling out outpatient psycho-social support centres designed to provide screening and counselling services and awareness and prevention services to people affected by drugs, including their families.
“These services are set to ensure the successful reintegration of former drug users back into society”.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa
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Available Funding
The Zimbabwean government availed $500 million under the drug and substance abuse mitigation fund as part of efforts by the Second Republic to speed up high-impact activities in the fight against the drug menace.
“It is my expectation that the $500 million availed by my Government under the drug and substance abuse mitigation fund will accelerate high-impact activities and results in this fight to end drug abuse. These activities should reach every corner of Zimbabwe, no one and no place should be left behind,” stated the President.
Government also set up an inter-ministerial taskforce on drug and substance abuse as part of his administration’s efforts to end the scourge which remains a great threat to the attainment of Vision 2030.
Task Force
The taskforce is chaired by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and deputised by the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation. The taskforce technical officers are continuously being trained on curbing drug and substance abuse by the Government with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Further, the Second Republic’s achievements as well as the nation’s future wealth and progress were all at risk from the terrible effects of drug usage and misuse.
“As such, my government is determined to ensure a Zimbabwe free of drug and substance abuse. We can only prosper as a people when we have a healthy, sound, and responsible society, particularly youths”.
Private Sector Involvement
The President also challenged the private sector to partner with government and local authorities in both rural and urban areas in providing requisite infrastructure and facilities for promoting healthy lifestyles, especially among the youth.
On youth’s part, President Mnangagwa challenged them to ride on the knowledge-driven economic agenda and the ease of doing business environment prevailing under the Second Republic to establish sustainable, profitable and professional business entities.
Additionally, he urged them to explore productive opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, tourism, creative cultural industries, information communication technologies (ICT) and digital connectivity.
“You, our talented young people should take advantage of innovation hubs and industrial parks at our institutions of higher learning to innovate and create viable start-ups to produce all goods and services used by our people. In your economic endeavours, you must think and act with the future of our country in mind.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa
“The Second Republic”
President Mnangagwa stated that the “Second Republic” continues to implement a number of measures to increase youth participation in decision-making and promotion in all areas of the economy, including parliament.
Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry
Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry asked the government to include youths in all facets of development.
“The youth are demanding space to make these decisions with us and figure out our Vision 2030. They demand more opportunities skills and jobs. They demand us to ensure we continue to enable an environment to fulfil their dreams,” proclaimed Coventry.
Coventry called for more sport and vocational facilities to be built and rehabilitated to help reduce or eradicate drug and substance abuse among the youth.
“As a member of the inter-ministerial committee, we are working hard to approach this situation as a whole of Government approach. As a ministry, we have to work to push for more sports, art, and vocational training centres to be fully capacitated”.
“If we can replace drugs with structured programmes that are on offer, we will be able to attain your vision and our Vision 2030. We cannot allow our resilient and brilliant young people to be captured by drugs.”
In conclusion, the youth constitute the majority of the country’s population making them a key component in the developmental discourse of Zimbabwe.
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