Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri says Zimbabwe is facing a deepening drug crisis after 19 632 people were arrested last year a 41 percent jump from 2024.
In a statement yesterday, Muchinguri-Kashiri said the figures reflect the scale of the problem.
“Drug and substance abuse remains one of the most complex and destabilising public health, social, economic and national security concerns,” she said.
“Its impacts undermine human capital development, family cohesion, community safety and productivity, threatening our final lap towards Vision 2030.”
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She said 17 028 suspects were taken to court and 216 drug bases were destroyed.
“We are implementing a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society response anchored on seven strategic pillars,” she said.
Youth remain the hardest hit.
“The majority of those arrested were under 35, reaffirming youth vulnerability as a key national concern.”
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe conducted 664 inspections, cancelled 15 licences, and referred 177 cases for prosecution.
“A total of 90 nationwide awareness initiatives were carried out,” she said.
Rehabilitation services expanded sharply, with facilities increasing from 48 to 139, including new centres in Copacabana, Tsiga, Matapi and Old Highfield.
“We now have 102 more facilities earmarked for conversion,” she added.
She also confirmed that 192 traffic police officers were trained to use modern breathalysers to curb drug-related driving.
