Africa-Press – Tanzania. CULTIVATION and abuse of marijuana and khat remains a serious challenge in the country, a recent report on the status of illicit drugs in Tanzania for 2020 has revealed.
The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youth and Disabled, Jenista Mhagama said at a news conference yesterday that Tanzania had however significantly succeeded in the fight against illicit drugs.
Speaking after tabling the status of illicit drugs in Tanzania for 2020 in the august House, Ms Mhagama said that the world report for 2020 shows that despite joint efforts in the fight against illicit drugs, it shows that about 269 million people aged between 15 and 64 abused drugs in 2018, with marijuana leading in the list.
Apart from the successes in curbing importation of industrial illicit drugs, particularly heroin, Ms Mhagama said the country was still facing a challenge of fighting locally grown drugs— marijuana and khat—which are cultivated in many parts of the country.
The minister who was flanked by Drugs Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) Commissioner General, Gerald Kusaya said that in 2020, about 13.23 tonnes of marijuana were seized with 7,601 suspects arrested in various parts of the country.
“Equally, about 28 farms with 26.2 hectares involving 34 suspects were destroyed as per the requirement of the law, and about 11.8 tonnes of Khat were seized as 1,156 suspects were arrested,’’ she added.
The minister added that during the corresponding period, about 349.81 kilograms of heroin were seized, with 428 suspects arrested. Also, she added, 4.52 kilograms of cocaine were also seized with 80 suspects arrested.
Apart from fighting the importation, cultivation and use of illicit drugs, the minister said the government was investing in rehabilitation of drug addicts at six recuperation clinics in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Mbeya, Tanga, Pwani and Dodoma.
As of December 2020, she said, there were 9,188 drug addicts receiving free rehabilitation services at the centres.
The addicts ought to be administered with methadone, a therapy used for maintenance of dependence on drugs and for chronic pain management.
As marijuana remains a challenge in the country, the DCEA Commissioner General told journalists at a separate news conference that the government does not have any plans whatsoever to legalize cultivation of marijuana in the country.
He was speaking ahead of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which is expected to be commemorated at national level in Dodoma region on July 29. The day is marked on June 26 every year, to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving the goal of a world free of drug abuse.
According to Dodoma Regional Commissioner, Anthony Mtaka, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa is expected to grace the event to be marked at Dodoma famous grounds—Nyerere Square.
According to Ms Mhagama, treatment to drug addicts was intensified in different district and regional hospitals, with statistics showing that about 169,269 drug addicts were treated countrywide.
“Many of them were found to have been affected by marijuana, Khat, alcohol, heroin and cocaine, while others used normal drugs used in hospitals, which include valium, pethidine and tramadol,’’ she said.
Ms Mhagama said the government will continue enhancing enforcement of laws and regulations to further control importation and use of abusive drugs.
