BY NDUMISO TSHUMA
Zimbabwe is taking a united front against the growing issue of drug and substance abuse with the launch of a comprehensive Multisectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan (2024-2030).
The plan, developed by the National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse (DSA), emphasises the need for collaboration across all sectors of society.
Committee Chair Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri underscored this need, stating, “DSA is multi-faceted and requires a multi-sectoral approach… I call upon all stakeholders to work as a team.”
The Plan has seven strategic pillars aimed at combating drug and substance abuse and fostering collective actions across the nation. These pillars include supply reduction, demand reduction, harm reduction, treatment and rehabilitation, community reintegration, policy and legal enforcement, media and communication, as well as resource mobilization and economic strengthening.
President Mnangagwa stated that this comprehensive plan provides a roadmap for Zimbabwe’s response to the challenges of drug and substance abuse, aiming to leave no one behind as the country advances toward its long-term goals.
“The plan provides strategic direction to the nation’s response to the drug and substance abuse challenge and ensures that all communities, families, and individuals are fully supported as the country moves towards vision 2030, leaving no one and no place behind. Best practices and lessons learned from the strategic approaches used during the successful whole-of-government and society national COVID-19 pandemic response that my office led and coordinated informed the development of this plan,” said Mnangagwa.
“In addition, other evidence-based local, regional, and global strategies and approaches to responding to DSA also informed the development of this comprehensive national plan. I, therefore, call upon all of us to redouble our efforts and continue working as a team in the fight against drug and substance abuse guided by this Multi-Sectoral response plan. This will ensure that we, as a nation, can realise our aspirations of a Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle-Income Society by 2030.”
