.public vehicles fingured in transporting dagga
RUTENDO CHIRUME
MASVINGO- Masvingo ZRP has launched a surprise drug fight targeting motorists, commuters and public vehicles on all access roads in the ancient city resulting in the arrest of tens of people found in possession of illegal substances.
The campaign where the Police were stopping all vehicles and searching for the illegal substances comes at the backdrop of serious abuse of drugs by mainly the youths including school girls.
The road blocks were mounted on five entry points into the City including Chimusana access bridge where most commuters from Mucheke use to get into the CBD.
Addressing the media, ZRP Masvingo Province Commander, Commisioner David Mahoya confirmed the blitz which started early in the morning (6/02/23) where 10 people travelling along Masvingo-Mutare Road were nabbed for possession of 60kg of maruajana and other illegal drugs.
Commissioner Mahoya also said the operation will extend to all communities where the Police will be working in partnership with various stakeholders like the church, traditional leaders, civic organisations and other Government agencies.
“We want to curb this pandemic for we have noticed that if it is not controlled we might be losing the next generation to drugs.
“Going forward we will continue with the road blocks on intervals. However, we need to put in a lot of effort because the level of the problem is huge and will be difficult to control as the perpetrators have a tendency of going underground upon realising that their days are numbered,” he added.
“We are working with church leaders , traditional leaders and stakeholders in this operation but we invite the community at large so that it can help us to identify drug lords and those abusing drugs in their communities so that the Police can do their work flawlessly.
“There has been a lot of drug abuse which have resulted in many social ills including death that is why this operation is important,” he said.
He went on to say that in this operation they have noticed that many of these drugs especially dagga is being transported through public vehicles with more men than women being found in possession of these drugs.
Methodist Church in Zimbabwe Reverend Simbarashe Sithole highlighted the need for the church to play a leading role in the fight against drug abuse as its voice can easily get to the would be offenders among congregants.
“We might be losing a generation because most of the people taking these drugs are adoscents and youth who are as young as 11 years.
“As the Church it is our role to safeguard our youths and children against drugs because we have an opportunity to reach out to the masses since most of them are our members.
“At Methodist we do youths week, outreach camps and many activities where youths go and are taught on the dangers of drug abuse therefore we hope other churches can make use of that because there is no Psycho- Christian based rehabilitation module for youth drug abusers in Zimbabwe and that needs to be addressed. This problem is no longer for the unemployed youths but even the working class and school pupils including students at tertiary institutions as they tend to want to experiment yet they will be harming themselves,” said Sithole.
One of the passengers on Inter Africa Bus which was coming from Chipinge, Peter Chasanyariya from Chimanimani where a man was caught with a sack full of maruajana applauded the Police for the blitz as it would reduce interprovincial transportation of drugs.
Masvingo ZRP Provincial spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed that at least 20 people from all entry points were caught with marijuana whilst others had illegal substances which included, zvikozodo, sex enhancing tablets, bleaching tablets and creams.
