By Flata Kavinga
Kwekwe City Council is set to roll out ward-based awareness campaigns and crackdowns on drug and substance abuse, with councillors expected to work with police and other stakeholders to identify the sources of the problem.
Mayor Cllr Albert Zinhanga said the initiative followed a government directive to involve local authorities and traditional leaders in efforts to combat drug and substance abuse, which has been declared a national disaster.
Speaking to journalists after a full council meeting, Zinhanga said the government was shifting its focus towards communities where drug and substance abuse originates, with councillors expected to play a leading role in identifying problem areas and mobilising residents.
He said the campaign would be implemented across all wards, with mayors, councillors, village development committee (VIDCO) chairpersons and traditional leaders, including village heads, expected to lead community discussions.
“The issue is no longer a national, provincial or district issue. They want us to go to the source of the problem and start advocating at ward level,” said Zinhanga.
He said he would work with the district development coordinator (DDC), the town clerk and other stakeholders to develop a programme covering all wards in Kwekwe.
The campaign is expected to bring together the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), the military and other members of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) to discuss measures to address the problem.
Zinhanga said councillors were expected to use their knowledge of their communities to help law enforcement agencies identify areas where drugs were being sold or distributed.
“Some of the councillors, if you are a councillor in an area, you actually know where the source is. So you must be able to help the police with information, and there will be a crackdown,” he said.
The mayor said urban local authorities had been given until 30 November to complete ward-level engagements, while rural areas had been allocated a longer period because of the larger number of wards they cover.
The initiative is part of a nationwide drive to strengthen community participation in combating drug and substance abuse.
However, the effectiveness of the campaign will depend on sustained community engagement, cooperation between law enforcement agencies and local leaders and measures that address the underlying causes of substance abuse.
