MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Mkoba South legislator John Kuka has kicked off the new year with an unusually blunt warning that Zimbabwe risks losing a generation unless leaders move beyond speeches and confront drug and substance abuse as a national development crisis.
In his New Year statement, Kuka broke with the celebratory tone common at the start of the year, choosing instead to spotlight the spread of drugs in high density suburbs and growth points, which he said was quietly eroding families, productivity and community safety.
“Drug and substance abuse is no longer a fringe social problem, it is an existential threat to our communities,” Kuka said, adding that silence or political caution had only emboldened dealers and cartels who prey on unemployed youths.
The outspoken legislator said the fight against drugs could not be left to police raids alone, calling for a whole-of-society response that brings together parents, churches, schools, local authorities and civil society.
“No single institution can win this battle on its own. It requires collective effort, from families that must speak openly with their children, to communities that must refuse to normalize drug use, and leaders who must be fearless in confronting the problem,” he said.
Kuka also turned the spotlight inward, challenging Parliament to play a more decisive role instead of reacting episodically to drug-related tragedies.
He said lawmakers should urgently push for a coherent national policy that treats drug and substance abuse as both a public health and economic issue, rather than a purely criminal one.
Among key interventions, Kuka proposed increased budgetary support for rehabilitation and mental health services, especially at district and provincial hospitals, where facilities remain limited or non-existent.
He also called for stronger oversight of border controls and pharmaceutical supply chains, which he said were major entry points for illicit substances.
“Parliament must legislate with development in mind,” he said. “We need laws that support rehabilitation, reintegration and job creation, because without addressing unemployment and poverty, we are merely trimming branches while the roots remain intact.”
The former trade unionist further urged Parliament to strengthen constituency level development programmes aimed at youth empowerment, arguing that idle young people were easy targets for drug peddlers.
Kuka added that the Mkoba South’s development agenda would be measured not only in roads and infrastructure, but also in the social wellbeing of its people.
“As we pursue development, we must remember that a community battling addiction cannot fully develop,” he said. “This is the year to act together.”
His remarks come amid growing concern from health professionals and community leaders over the rise in drug-related illnesses, crime and school dropouts, particularly in urban areas.
