Zimbabwe’s drug and substance abuse crisis escalated sharply in 2025, with 19 632 people arrested a 41% jump from 13 942 in 2024 while rehabilitation centres increased from 48 to 139 nationwide, underscoring both the scale of the problem and government’s expanding response to the abuse of drugs.
Minister of Defence and National Chairperson on Drug and Substance Abuse, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, said the statistics reflect firm implementation of the National Drug and Substance Abuse Master Plan.
Under the Supply Reduction pillar, authorities dismantled trafficking networks and destroyed 216 drug bases across the country, while 17,028 cases were referred to the courts for stiffer penalties.
“All offenders are now being referred to courts for prosecution and stiffer penalties following the abolition of spot fines under the Liquor Act [Chapter 14:12],” she said, adding that most offenders recorded were under the age of 35, highlighting the growing vulnerability of young people.
Regulatory enforcement was also tightened, with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) conducting 664 inspections, cancelling 15 licences, and referring 177 cases for prosecution. “Inspectors received capacity-building training in all ten provinces, and 90 nationwide awareness initiatives were implemented, including festive season campaigns aimed at curbing drug and substance abuse,” Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
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On the Demand Reduction front, prevention programmes reached 8,495,819 people across the country, representing a 49 percent increase from 5.7 million reached in 2024.
“The expanded coverage across schools, communities, media platforms and grassroots structures reflects our commitment to education, awareness, youth empowerment and socio-economic resilience,” she said.
Government also strengthened economic empowerment interventions, with 25,531 individuals benefiting from vocational and livelihood training, while 2,400 youths were reached through targeted skills outreach programmes.
“The Presidential Youth Empowerment Programme disbursed a US$2 million revolving fund and provided mobility aids to youths with disabilities,” she added, noting complementary agricultural, fish farming and goat improvement projects aimed at creating alternative income streams.
Muchinguri-Kashiri said key milestones included commissioning the Angel of Hope Rehabilitation Centre and operationalising the Wilkins Drug Rehabilitation Centre, establishment of testing centres in Copacabana, Tsiga, Matapi and Old Highfields, and identification of 102 facilities for conversion into treatment centres 68 Government-owned and 33 church-owned. “
We have also launched a Population-Based Screening and National Situational Analysis Programme to strengthen data-driven interventions,” she said.
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