BY SILAS NKALA THE Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVac)’s latest report has revealed that 1 058 people have been arrested since January and drugs valued at $24,7 million recovered.
“The Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry is rehabilitating survivors of drug and substance abuse. Thirty-two drug and substance abuse campaigns were also held,” the report read.
“Efforts towards supply reduction resulted in the arrests of up to 1 058 persons and drugs valued at $24,7 million were recovered. On the harm reduction pillar, five national harm reduction centres and eight provincial drop-in centres were identified to provide the integrated care model for drug abusers.”
ZimVac noted that the Inter-ministerial Taskforce on Drug and Substance Abuse was established to address issues of prevention, care, harm reduction, treatment and law enforcement on supply of drugs after 53,8% households identified drug and substance abuse as one of the major challenges affecting youths.
“The Presidential Rural Development Programme being implemented has the component of integrated youth in incubation centres in the 10 provinces for the benefit of the youths in agriculture. These hubs are set to be training centres of excellence for all agricultural activities that the youth intend to venture into which include, but are not limited to animal husbandry, apiculture, fisheries, horticulture, dairy and other crop production ventures. The youth centres will act as incubation hubs for accelerated agricultural transformation for wealth-creation and prosperity for the youths. When fully developed, the establishments will become centres of excellence for youth entrepreneurial development,” ZimVac reported.
ZimVac also recommended that the Sport, Arts and Recreation ministry establishes community recreational programmes and facilities for the youths.
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