Ex-drug addicts for national youth service

The government has unveiled a new policy to integrate successfully rehabilitated drug addicts into the National Youth Service (NYS) programme, in a bid to promote reintegration, discipline, and skills development among the country's youth.

The initiative was announced yesterday by Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Tino Machakaire during a tour of the Restore Life Rehabilitation Centre in Harare. The programme, he said, seeks to channel the energy and potential of recovered youths towards national productivity and community development.

"For too long, our young people have been lost to the darkness of drugs," said Machakaire. "This programme is about national healing and productivity. We are saying to every rehabilitated youth - your country needs you."

According to the minister, the policy will be accompanied by a strict vetting process. Only individuals who have completed certified rehabilitation and received a clean bill of health from medical professionals will qualify for enrolment.

After completing the NYS training, participants will be placed at vocational training centres to acquire technical and entrepreneurial skills for self-employment and economic empowerment.

Restore Life Rehabilitation Centre founder Jonathan Muchengeti welcomed the development, saying it acknowledged the value of rehabilitation and the potential of those who have overcome addiction.

"A rehabilitated addict is not a damaged good," Muchengeti said. "They are some of the most resilient individuals you will ever meet. This policy shows faith in recovery and human renewal."

Prominent social commentator Rebecca Chisamba also praised the government's move, describing it as "a powerful step in the right direction" that reinforces the country's commitment to care, redemption, and youth empowerment.

"This initiative sends a message that no young person is beyond saving," she said. "It blends compassion with national development."

Zimbabwe has been grappling with a growing drug and substance abuse crisis, particularly among teenagers and young adults. Health experts warn that drug abuse is now a leading cause of new admissions at mental health institutions nationwide.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repeatedly condemned the scourge, calling for tougher penalties for drug dealers and cartels behind the illegal trade.

Authorities say the new NYS rehabilitation enrolment policy forms part of a broader national effort to tackle the social and economic fallout from drug abuse - by turning recovery into a pathway for purpose and productivity.