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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporter
GOVERNMENT has established five drug rehabilitation centres in different parts of the country while 600 drug abusers have been rehabilitated countrywide as Zimbabwe moves to address substance abuse among youths.

President Mnangagwa in February launched the National Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse campaign as the country seeks to come up with lasting solutions to drug abuse, which is on the increase.

This has seen the Government setting up an inter-ministerial committee on substance abuse chaired by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.

Following the establishment of the inter-ministerial committee, experts have expressed concerns over the use of non-conventional drugs by those taking drugs.

Some of the youths are said to be smoking powder that is found in fluorescent lamps and diapers.

Addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, said so far up to 600 youths have been rehabilitated as detailed in the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee 2022 Rural Livelihoods Assessment Report.

“Government has also set up five centres for the rehabilitation of youths affected by substance abuse, with a total of 600 substance abusers having gone through the centres,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Minister Monica Mutsvangwa

She said Government has started creating job opportunities to distract youths from taking drugs.

“To address employment challenges, Government is implementing various job creation initiatives, including the provision of skills and entrepreneurship training for income-generation projects by Vocational Training Centres and through Integrated Skills Outreach Programmes (ISOPs),” she said.