Copacabana, Gulf Complex flagged as drug hotspots

Authorities have identified Copacabana and Gulf Complex in Harare's central business district among key locations where illicit drugs are allegedly being sold, as stakeholders call for stronger and more targeted interventions to tackle growing substance abuse in the capital.

Permanent Secretary for Harare Metropolitan Province, Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Shingirayi Mushamba, said there was an urgent need to gain a deeper understanding of the drug abuse crisis, including the substances being sold, the people distributing them, the age groups affected and the factors driving their consumption.

Dr Mushamba made the remarks during a stakeholders' meeting on drug and substance abuse convened by Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Senator Charles Tawengwa on Wednesday.

He said some drugs were being openly sold in parts of the city, including pills concealed in fruit boxes and marketed to both young people and adults.

According to Dr Mushamba, efforts to address the challenge must extend beyond commonly known substances and uncover the full extent of drug use within communities.

"When we talk about drugs, I have a very strong feeling that there are people who think what they are doing is not drug abuse and that the problem only happens next door," he said.

"I want us to be in the midst of the challenge ourselves and ask which drugs are being sold, where, by whom and at what time. Let us identify them.

"Of course, we often focus on the usual cough syrups, but there are other hidden issues. The more we ignore them, the more we do an injustice to ourselves."

Dr Mushamba said a comprehensive understanding of the drivers of drug use and the demographics most affected would help authorities and stakeholders design more effective responses.

"What are the drivers of drug uptake? Which age groups are most affected? Among adults, which drugs are being abused and why? Once we understand the phenomenon fully, we can begin to propose solutions that truly work," he said.

Meanwhile, Harare City Council Mental Health Coordinator Ray Moyo, representing Provincial Mental Health Officer Zephania Chikudu, called for increased scrutiny of legal alcohol sales, arguing that alcohol often serves as a gateway to more harmful substance abuse.

Moyo expressed concern over the growing number of liquor outlets operating across the city and urged authorities to review licensing practices.

"Look at how bottle stores are sprouting everywhere in town. Every corner has a bar. They may have liquor licences, but that is where it starts," he said.

"There is a need to limit the number of liquor licences. Some bars open as early as 7am and only close around 2am."

Other participants at the meeting raised concerns that several locations where drugs are allegedly sold and consumed, including informal drinking spots and shebeens, remain largely beyond the reach of routine monitoring and enforcement efforts.

The concerns come as government and community stakeholders intensify efforts to address drug and substance abuse, which has increasingly been recognised as a major public health and social challenge affecting communities across Zimbabwe.

Authorities say a coordinated approach involving law enforcement agencies, health professionals, local authorities, community leaders and residents will be critical in tackling the problem and protecting vulnerable groups, particularly young people, from the harmful effects of substance abuse.