By Virginia Njovo
Masvingo City Council recently led the formation of City of Masvingo Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Committee, which is a partnership of several organisations on anti-drug and substance abuse drive in the city.
The committee which is chaired by Masvingo City health and environmental services director Suzzane Madamombe consists of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and other law enforcement agents, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, community members, church representatives as well as the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation.
Masvingo City Council Communications and Public Relations Officer Ashleigh Jinjika said the committee had a lot of work to do in their quest to end drug and substance abuse in the province.
“The committee is mandated to conduct public awareness campaigns, educating the public on the implications of drug to human life by organising community outreach programmes as well as supporting rehabilitation and treatment services,” said Jinjika.
She added that they were going to monitor the trends in communities, which would inform their programming.
“The committee is also going to monitor and report on substance abuse trends in the community,” said Jinjika.
On November 19 2024, ZRP Masvingo had a roadshow in town where they were raising public awareness on anti-drug and substance abuse, while they also move around in churches and schools.
Ngomahuru psychiatric hospital is also moving around in schools and churches on an anti-drug abuse campaign after discovering that 70 to 75 percent of the patients admitted at the hospital are drug abusers.
