Beverly Bizeki
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Masvingo busted drug trafficking syndicates and netted 60kgs of marijuana and an assortment of other drugs during an operation ‘No to dangerous drugs and illicit substances’ launched in the city on February 6, 2023.
The operation saw officers manning a searching point along Masvingo-Mutare highway near Caravan Park where at least 10 people being arrested on spot.
ZRP Officer Commanding Masvingo province Commissioner David Mahoya said the operation follows a rise in drug abuse cases and transportation which has resulted in police escalating the operation into a blitz.
“The young generation is severely affected by drug and substance abuse with transportation of dangerous drugs rife hence we have launched this operation ‘No to dangerous drugs and illicit substances’ to try and curb the abuse of dangerous drugs,
“For the short period of time that we have carried out the operation since morning, we have arrested 10 people, netted about 60kgs of marijuana and an assortment of other drugs,” said commissioner Mahoya.
The marijuana was found stashed in buckets and other small containers being transported in buses and other small vehicles with most of the culprits being men aged between 28 and 35.
Mahoya said most people have resorted to selling drugs as an easy way of doing business which does not require much.
“Most people have ventured into selling drugs as they think it is the easiest business they can do which does not require a lot of effort and a lot of thinking on it,” he added.
United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe Superintendent Minister for the youth for Masvingo North Simbarashe Sithole lauded the efforts by police and urged the church as a whole to bring education and assistance to the youth involved in drug and substance abuse.
“The church has a great role to play in the fight against drug and substance abuse as most youth attend church with some of them involved in this scourge. So the church can play a role to educate and inform some of the children against drugs together with the law enforcement agencies.
“Unfortunately some parents are selling drugs but we urge them to consider the lives of children more than the profits they are making as the future of the nation lies with the young generation,” said Sithole.
Sithole also advocated for stiffer penalties for the culprits as well as anonymous reporting facilities as some people are now scared of their own children involved in this ordeal.
Ketayi Zvinonzwa said women are being affected by the ordeal as they are responsible for taking care of children at home as they end up stealing and being violent where they stay.
“As women, we are affected by children abusing drugs in that they tend to be violent beating people and some going to the extent of killing people as well as stealing things from homes in order to get money to buy drugs,” said Zvinonzwa.
