Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. HARARE metropolitan province urgently requires at least US$500 000 for rehabilitation centres that take in drug addicts, amid reports that the scourge of illegal substance abuse has reached alarming levels.
With a population of approximately 2,5 million, the province is witnessing an alarming influx of illegal substances that threaten the future of the young generation.
This crisis has led to a significant increase in mental health issues, with around 60% of institutionalised patients struggling with drug-related challenges.
While rehabilitation centres are taking care of around 5 000 individuals, thousands more remain without access to vital support.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Charles Tavengwa sent an SOS to various stakeholders to contribute money and material resources needed to construct rehabilitation centres for addicts.
“We want a drug-free youth in our country,” he said.
“Currently, we are working on Wilkins Hospital, which really is a major hospital.”
The facility, which is 95% complete, will have a capacity of about 60 beds.
“We will need to equip that hospital and other centres, which we identified around Harare metropolitan province, which will be in Highfield, the Chitubu Clinic in Glen Norah, also in Kuwadzana, there’s one,” he said.
“And then in Mbare, there’s another one as well at Matapi, which we are working towards. And all these resources will, therefore, be directed exclusively to anti-drug and substance abuse related activities.”
Tavengwa said a fund-raising dinner would be held in Harare today.
“This is why we are inviting people to come and be with us on Friday, at Golden Conference Centre, where we want to raise at least US$500 000 minimum,” he said.
“We are inviting all sectors really, churches, NGOs [non-governmental organisations], businesspeople, our politicians, the MPs, councillors, they should all join us and other bodies which are interested… It’s not only about the dinner, the issue is the aftermath of that dinner.”
Zimbabwe is in the grip of a devastating drug abuse epidemic that has left thousands of young people addicted and vulnerable.
The country’s economic struggles and high youth unemployment rate have led many vulnerable individuals to turn to substance use as a coping mechanism.
The crisis has spiralled out of control, with streets and homeless shelters filled with individuals who are struggling with the effects of substance abuse.
The government has since declared war on drug and illegal substance abuse, while President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for stiffer penalties against those behind the scourge.
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