Drug abuse among Zimbabweans on the rise

More than 5000 Zimbabweans were convicted for drug related crimes last year, an indication that the vice that most Zimbabweans have been afraid of for so many years has now come onto the nation's door steps.

Zimbabwe Republic Police  (ZRP) Spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said in the period from January to December 2015, 5445 people were arrested on various drug related crimes.

She also indicated that ages between 15 and 35 are the major users or abusers of drugs.

5273 people were charged for varying offences which included importing dangerous drugs, selling, manufacturing, possession and unlawful possession of drugs.

International statistics show that cocaine is the second most trafficked illegal drug in the world.

International seizures of the toxic substance cocaine have continued to increase and now total 756 metric tonnes, with the largest quantities of the drug intercepted in South America, followed by North America.

In the past, Zimbabwe was used by drug dealers as a transit country but the trend is changing fast.

Sad revelations are that the country is fast turning into a back yard manufacturer of dangerous drugs with local youths emerging as major perpetrators.

There are indications that some drug lords are known and hot spots for such activities are also known.

Some believe that lighter sentences imposed on some of the convicted people discourage the police from taking risks of tracing such dangerous activities.

Harare lawyer, Mr Tapson Dzvetero believes there is need to revise the legislation to ensure these new drugs on the market are classified under the Dangerous Drugs Act which has provisions of a custodial sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

'An idle mind is the devil's workshop,' goes the old saying and social commentators say parents must play a leading role in mentoring their children.

"On one side, poverty can drive children into taking risks, but on the other hand, money in the hands of irresponsible children end up buying dangerous drugs," a social commentator, Musekiwa Makwanya, said.

Zimbabwe Institute of Drug and Alcohol Combating Director, Mr Joseph Javangwe said there is need for awareness to ensure the youth are educated on the dangers of being recruited into dangerous substances abuse.

While common drugs such as dagga have been abused for a long time in zimbabwe, these pale into insignificance when compared with dangerous drugs such as cocaine and heroin that are finding their way into Zimbabwe.