BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

In a bid to combat drug and substance abuse, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has named and shamed 32 drug barons and suppliers who were convicted by the courts throughout the country.

The suspects were found guilty of various offenses, including illegal possession of dagga, unregistered medicines, and dangerous drugs.

Admire Chamwaita, 26, from Melandawonye in Beitbridge, was sentenced to 210 hours of community service for illegal possession of dagga. Madawu Ndamulelo, 18, from Botina Village in Beitbridge, was fined $60 or 15 months imprisonment for illegal possession of dagga, Benylin cough syrup, and Broncleer cough syrup.

Abyssina Kutukwa, 45, from Matshobane in Bulawayo, was sentenced to 17 months imprisonment for illegal possession of dagga and Benylin. Thembelani Ncube, 45, from Nkayi District, was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for possession of dagga.

Ferzel Fershaad Horton, 22, from Northend in Bulawayo, was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment for cultivation of dagga. Mathew Muzondiwa, 25, from Makokoba in Bulawayo, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment for possession of unregistered medicines.

Frank Ndlovu, 18, from Hillside in Bulawayo, was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for illegal possession of dagga. Brian Sithole, 26, from Highlands in Zvishavane, was sentenced to possession of dagga and seven prohibited knives.

Ishmael Ayimedi, 25, from Eldorado Mine Compound in Chinhoyi, was fined $80 or three months imprisonment for unlawful possession of dangerous drugs. Trymore Chinyundo, 18, was fined $200 or two months imprisonment for unlawful possession of dagga.

Gabriel Munashe Muzavazi, 25, was fined $150 or two months imprisonment for unlawful possession of dagga and Broncleer Cough Syrup. Simbarashe Zhakata, 42, from Mukumbadzetse Street in Mufakose, Harare, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for unlawful possession of Crystal Meth.

Nene Chiedza, 35, from Hlatsurayo Road in Mbare, Harare, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for unlawful possession of dagga. Loreta Panashe, 38, from A1 Block 62 Tagarika in Mbare, Harare, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for unlawful possession of unregistered medicines.

Luckmore Murembwe, 24, from Dema Phase 1 in Seke, was fined $150 or two months imprisonment for unlawful possession of dagga. Martin Chikore, 39, from Unit 0 in Seke, Chitungwiza, was sentenced to six months imprisonment for unlawful possession of dagga and unregistered medicines.

Rodney Mano, 28, from Trafalgar Court in Harare, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for possession of unregistered medicines. Maxwell Warakula, 38, from Glen Norah A in Harare, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment for unlawful possession of dagga.

Fayness Moreblessing John, 29, from Amalinda Road in Glenview 1, Harare, was fined $200 for possession of unregistered medicines. Antony Mwedziwendira from Milton Park in Harare was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for possession of unregistered medicines.

Chamunorwa Siyamanyiwa, 34, from Dzivarasekwa in Harare, was sentenced to two months imprisonment for unlawful possession of dagga.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has reiterated that there is no going back in the fight against drug and substance abuse.

Through the National Committee on the Elimination of Drugs and Substance Abuse, the police said they will continue to name and shame drug barons and suppliers in any part of the country.

The public is urged to continue providing information regarding drug barons and suppliers through the National Complaints Desk number (0242) 703631 or WhatsApp 0712 800 197.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has raised alarm over the deteriorating healthcare system in the country, citing a depleted and demotivated healthcare workforce, inadequate infrastructure, and shortages of essential drugs and medical supplies.

According to the CWGH report, the healthcare system  is facing a multitude of challenges that are compromising the quality of healthcare services.

The report notes that the country’s healthcare workforce is severely depleted, with a brain drain of skilled healthcare professionals leaving the country in search of better opportunities.

“The parlous human resource situation reflects a number of factors that include: inadequate number, mix and distribution resulting from inadequate output from training institutions and the outward migration of health workers to other countries,” the report read.

“In particular, the outmigration of health workers has been driven by heavy workloads, inadequate compensation exacerbated by the high inflation, limited career development prospects, and challenging working conditions. The outmigration of health workers has led to longer waiting times, reduced patient care time, and compromisedhealth outcomes.

“District level health facilities have been the worst affected by the outmigration of health workers. Specialists who migrate take with them valuable expertise, experience, and knowledge. This loss has impacted on the quality of health services, particularly in specialized areas where their skills are in high demand.”

The CWGH report also highlights the inadequate infrastructure and ill-equipped public healthcare facilities, making it difficult for healthcare workers to provide quality care.

The shortage of essential drugs and medical supplies has also become a major concern, with many patients unable to access the treatment they need.

Furthermore, the report notes the rising incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and injuries from accidents, which is putting a strain on the already overwhelmed healthcare system.

To address these challenges, the CWGH recommends that the government increase public spending on healthcare to at least 15% of the total budget, address the human resources situation, strengthen manufacturing capacity to improve access to quality-assured essential medicines, and improve access to sexual and reproductive health services, especially for adolescents.

The CWGH also calls for increased investment in addressing mental health issues and combating the scourge of NCDs through prevention programs and early diagnosis and management.

BY STAFF REPORTER

The Zimbabwean government has announced that it will compensate farmers who lost their land and property in farm seizures more than 20 years ago.

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube says that $20 million (more than  R300 million) will be paid to 94 claimants from Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and Yugoslavia before the end of this year.

Ncube says, “The bigger debt is with the former farm owners in terms of the Global Compensation of R5 billion and also that is the arrangement we negotiated that this year we should pay $35 billion and in terms of our budget envelope we had $20 million reserved for farmers. So both payments will start in earnest, this is multi-year programmes. It is not just for one year. So every year we have an allocation.”

SOURCE: SABC NEWS