KEY POINTS
- Zimbabwe launches drug and substance abuse courts nationwide.
- 60 percent of mental health admissions linked to drugs.
- New bill to create enforcement and rehabilitation agency.
Zimbabwe has stepped up its fight against drug and substance abuse with the launch of specialised courts dedicated to handling related cases, amid rising concern over the crisis’ impact on youth and communities.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the move backs President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s declaration of drug abuse as a national emergency. He also spoke at the opening of a Judicial Service Commission (JSC) training programme for magistrates and prosecutors, which he described as “translating national policy into courtroom reality.”
Drug courts launched under national plan
Furthermore about 44 magistrates and prosecutors have been trained under the programme, with two magistrates and two prosecutors assigned at each court countrywide. The courts will not replace existing structures but enhance the magistrates’ courts to ensure swift and consistent rulings.
Substance abuse fuels mental health admissions
Nearly 60 percent of mental health admissions in Zimbabwe are now linked to substance abuse, according to Ziyambi. Common drugs include crystal meth (mutoriro), codeine-laced cough syrups, cannabis, and illicit brews. He said the social fallout ranges from broken families and lost education to rising crime and strain on law enforcement.
Policy and legal reforms in motion
The courts are a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s Multisectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan (2024–2030), which combines enforcement with rehabilitation. Also the courts, Ziyambi’s ministry is drafting the National Drug and Substance Abuse Control and Enforcement Agency Bill, proposing a specialised body to enforce laws and provide counselling and skills training.
Prosecutor-General Loyce Matanda-Moyo, represented by Deputy Nelson Mutsonziwa, further said the initiative marks a shift from “reactionary rhetoric” to practical reforms, stressing the need for skilled prosecutors and a “seasoned bench” to win the fight.
