National

Zimbabwe’s drug crisis: Experts call for reform over punishment

Published

3 months ago

September 8, 2025

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

On Sunday, an enlightening X Space meeting delved into the escalating drug crisis in Zimbabwe, featuring critical insights from speakers African Queen and Syllogism. Their discussions shed light on the systemic challenges that continue to exacerbate drug abuse and trafficking in the country.

African Queen characterized the need for “willpower in the political system” as fundamental to successfully addressing the crisis. Drawing parallels with success stories from other nations, she stated, “Consider South Africa, which has successfully sent numerous professionals to Cuba for training. If Zimbabwe’s leadership genuinely wants to see its nation thrive, they must invest similarly in addressing the root causes of drug abuse. We cannot simply implement punitive measures; we need to create a narrative that builds awareness and educates our people.”

Critically, she expressed her discontent with government responses that focus on punishment rather than support. “What I do not like personally is a punitive government,” she explained. “When faced with societal issues, the first instinct seems to be to penalize the very citizens who are struggling to survive amid these problems. We want a government that engages with the public constructively rather than punishing them for attempting to escape their hardships.”

Highlighting a specific incident in Bulawayo, she referred to a recent proposal from the city council advocating punitive measures for littering, noting that it falls short of the necessary educational initiatives. “They want to impose fines, suggesting that citizens should inherently know better, but there’s been no concerted effort to educate them on why keeping our cities clean is crucial. Education should come before punishment to foster informed decision-making among the public.”

Syllogism echoed these sentiments while exploring the systemic challenges faced by law enforcement in dealing with drug-related issues in Zimbabwe. “It’s interesting to observe discussions around illegal drugs, especially given the recent escalations we’ve seen in Harare, where there’s been a significant police presence on major roads,” he remarked. “However, the critical question remains: Are these enforcement officers truly equipped to detect drugs effectively?”

He elaborated, noting, “Zimbabwe’s laws and rehabilitation systems have been heavily modeled after those in the UK, establishing a structural framework for enforcement. Yet, the real issue resides in the execution of these laws. Our police face resource challenges—a lack of sniffer dogs, insufficient training, and low morale driven by low pay—that undermine their ability to combat drug trafficking effectively. This systemic weakness allows those with financial power to evade justice while the less fortunate bear the brunt of legal repercussions.”

Syllogism continued, emphasizing, “The current approach is detrimental; it allows big suppliers to bribe their way out of trouble, leaving the poor to face harsh consequences for minor infractions. To truly address the problem, we must rethink how we motivate our law enforcers and tackle the corruption that permeates the system. Without proper incentives, our highly functioning laws, police, courts, and prisons will remain ineffective.”

Both speakers highlighted the alarming trend of drug abuse in Zimbabwe, noting that approximately 80% of the population acknowledges the issue as a serious concern. This crisis disproportionately affects the youth, making education and preventive programs vital to stemming the tide of addiction.

The police have recently ramped up efforts to combat drug abuse, with significant seizures reported. In one operation, law enforcement intercepted vehicles carrying over 60 kilograms of illegal substances, alongside multiple arrests, including a group of foreign Chinese nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking offenses in Harare.

National

World AIDS Day: UN Chief says ending AIDS by 2030 “is within grasp”

Published

2 weeks ago

December 1, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY SONIA HLOPHE

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has marked World AIDS Day with a message urging world leaders to scale up investment, confront stigma and ensure that lifesaving HIV services reach everyone who needs them.

In his statement, Guterres said this year’s commemoration serves as a reminder that the world “has the power to transform lives and futures, and end the AIDS epidemic once and for all.”

He highlighted the major gains achieved over the past decade.

“The progress we have made is undeniable,” he said, noting that “since 2010, new infections have fallen by 40 per cent” while “AIDS-related deaths have declined by more than half.” Access to treatment, he added, “is better than ever before.”

But despite this global progress, the Secretary-General warned that the crisis is far from over.

“For many people around the world, the crisis continues,” he said. “Millions still lack access to HIV prevention and treatment services because of who they are, where they live or the stigma they endure.”

Guterres also raised concern over shrinking resources:

“Reduced resources and services are putting lives at risk and threatening hard-won gains.”

He said ending AIDS requires fully supporting communities, scaling up prevention and ensuring treatment for everyone.

“Ending AIDS means empowering communities, investing in prevention and expanding access to treatment for all people.”

He also called for innovation to be matched by real-world delivery:

“It means uniting innovation with action, and ensuring new tools like injectables reach more people in need.”

Above all, he stressed the need for a human-rights centred response so no one is excluded.

“At every step, it means grounding our work in human rights to ensure no one is left behind.”

With the 2030 global deadline approaching, the UN chief said success is still possible if momentum is sustained.

“Ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is within grasp. Let’s get the job done.”

National

Zimbabwe fast-tracks approval of long-acting HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir

Published

3 weeks ago

November 25, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

Zimbabwe has taken a major step in the fight against HIV following the rapid approval of Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking long-acting injectable for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) authorised the drug in just 23 days, marking one of the fastest regulatory approvals in the country’s history.

The application, submitted by pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences in October, underwent an expedited review because of its public health importance. MCAZ says the fast-tracked process did not compromise scientific scrutiny, with the product subjected to a rigorous assessment of its safety, efficacy and quality.

Lenacapavir is designed for adults and adolescents weighing at least 35kg who are HIV-negative but at substantial risk of infection. Unlike traditional daily oral PrEP, the medicine is administered as a six-monthly injection, following an initiation phase that includes one injection and oral tablets on Days 1 and 2. Health authorities say this long-acting formulation could dramatically improve adherence and expand prevention options, particularly for communities where daily pill-taking is difficult.

MCAZ Director-General Richard T. Rukwata described the approval as a landmark moment in Zimbabwe’s HIV response.

“The rapid approval of Lenacapavir reflects MCAZ’s dedication to accelerating access to trusted, high-quality health products. This milestone brings new hope for HIV prevention and reinforces our commitment to safeguarding public health,” he said.

To fast-track the process, the Authority applied a regulatory reliance approach, drawing on scientific assessments from the World Health Organization’s Prequalification Programme (WHO PQ). This allowed evaluators to build on internationally recognised review processes while ensuring Zimbabwe’s own standards were met.

The introduction of Lenacapavir comes as Zimbabwe continues efforts to reduce new HIV infections, particularly among young people and key populations who face barriers to consistent PrEP use. Public health experts say the drug’s twice-yearly dosing could be a game changer in improving uptake and protection.

MCAZ says it remains committed to ensuring Zimbabweans have access to safe, effective and good-quality medical products, in line with its mandate under the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act.

National

Zimbabwe makes gains against TB

Published

3 weeks ago

November 21, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

The World Health Organization (WHO) data show that Zimbabwe continues to make measurable gains in its fight against tuberculosis (TB).

According to the Global Tuberculosis Report 2025, Zimbabwe’s estimated TB incidence has declined to 203 per 100,000 population, representing a 3.8 % reduction from 2023. The report states that “TB incidence in Zimbabwe has fallen to 203 per 100 000, a 3.8 % reduction from 2023.”

On treatment outcomes, the country’s overall success rate for all forms of TB has improved to 91 %, up from 89 % in 2023. The report quotes: “Treatment success for all forms of TB has improved to 91 %, up from 89 % in 2023.”

For drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), progress has also been recorded: treatment success rose from 64 % for the 2021 cohort to 68 % for the 2022 cohort. As the report notes: “treatment success for drug-resistant TB increased from 64 % for the 2021 cohort to 68 % for the 2022 cohort.”

In the critical sphere of TB‐HIV co-infection, Zimbabwe saw a drop in the co‐infection rate to 49 %, down from 51 %. The report states: “TB/HIV co-infection rates have fallen to 49 %, down from 51 %.”

Zooming out, the 2025 global report shows that across the world TB is falling again, although not yet at the pace required to meet targets. Globally, incidence declined by almost 2 % between 2023 and 2024, and deaths fell around 3 %.

However, the report warns that progress is fragile. Funding shortfalls, health-system disruptions (especially during the COVID-19 era), and the ongoing challenge of drug-resistant TB threaten to erode gains. The WHO page reminds that the 2025 edition “provides a comprehensive … assessment of the TB epidemic … at global, regional and country levels.”

For example, although more people are being diagnosed and treated than in previous years, not enough are being reached with preventive interventions, and many countries are still far from the targets set under the End TB Strategy.