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Machakaire fingers Zanu-PF bigwigs in drug smuggling scandal
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Youth Empowerment and Development Minister and ZANU-PF politburo member, Tinomudaishe Machakaire, has made explosive claims that some senior party officials are involved in drug smuggling and distribution, using the ruling party as a shield to protect themselves from accountability.
Speaking at a ZANU-PF inter-district meeting in Hwange recently, Machakaire did not mince his words as he warned against the devastating impact of narcotics on society.
"It's high time we call a spade a spade. Drugs are killing us. Drugs are destroying our nation," he said.
His remarks come at a time when Zimbabwe is grappling with what health experts and community leaders describe as a deepening drug crisis. According to the 2025 Afrobarometer survey, most citizens believe substance abuse is widespread in their communities.
The problem is particularly acute among young people aged 16 to 25, who account for nearly 80% of drug-related psychiatric admissions nationwide. Observers have compared the crisis to the HIV epidemic of the 1990s, with many noting that almost every household has been affected in some way.
In an effort to combat the scourge, government authorities have intensified their crackdown on illicit substances. Between March and June 2025, security forces carried out 206 raids and made 1,445 arrests linked to drug trafficking and abuse.
Machakaire's revelations have added a new dimension to the debate, highlighting fears that entrenched political protection may be fuelling the crisis. His bold stance is likely to spark further calls for accountability within the ruling party as Zimbabwe struggles to contain the growing drug epidemic.
Speaking at a ZANU-PF inter-district meeting in Hwange recently, Machakaire did not mince his words as he warned against the devastating impact of narcotics on society.
"It's high time we call a spade a spade. Drugs are killing us. Drugs are destroying our nation," he said.
The problem is particularly acute among young people aged 16 to 25, who account for nearly 80% of drug-related psychiatric admissions nationwide. Observers have compared the crisis to the HIV epidemic of the 1990s, with many noting that almost every household has been affected in some way.
In an effort to combat the scourge, government authorities have intensified their crackdown on illicit substances. Between March and June 2025, security forces carried out 206 raids and made 1,445 arrests linked to drug trafficking and abuse.
Machakaire's revelations have added a new dimension to the debate, highlighting fears that entrenched political protection may be fuelling the crisis. His bold stance is likely to spark further calls for accountability within the ruling party as Zimbabwe struggles to contain the growing drug epidemic.
Source - online
