As part of deterrent measures to deal with the national epidemic of drug and substance dealers, police are pushing for a change to the law that would impose a jail term without the possibility of a fine.
This is in response to the fact that between January and the end of March of this year, law enforcement officials detained 5 364 persons, of whom 4 962—typically users with modest amounts rather than dealers—were freed upon payment of deposit penalties.
Police even bring people suspected of being drug sellers who have greater quantities of narcotics into court, even in the absence of any evidence of dealing, and they won’t let them pay the deposit fines that a single-dose user can usually get away with.
However, while some drug users have been imprisoned, courts have occasionally allowed some drug users who possess bigger amounts of the narcotic to pay penalties.
Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe mentioned police pressure last week while responding to inquiries in the National Assembly.
Mr. Happymore Chidziva (CCC), the MP for Glen View North, had questioned the government on its efforts to address the pervasive problem of drug and substance abuse.
According to Minister Kazembe, the law is now being revised.
“In order to put a stop to this terrible problem, this agency suggests jail sentences in all cases involving drug and substance misuse.
Nonetheless, the Attorney General’s Office has been tasked with drafting revisions to the current laws, so they will be implementing our proposals.
“The policy and legal pillar to the National Elimination Committee on drug and substance abuse is working on recommendations by this office for amendment of all the existing laws to deal with drug and substance abuse,” said the official.
Minister Kazembe provided a summary of the government’s initiatives, stating that the National Elimination Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse (NECDSA) was formed in Zimbabwe to address the epidemic of drug and substance abuse. The organization’s goal is to create long-term, systematic solutions that will ensure that drug and substance abuse is completely eliminated from society.
“Every person was asked to join the National Elimination Committee on Drug and Substance misuse in the fight to stop the drug and substance misuse epidemic.
There are committees at the district, provincial, national, and local levels. Demand reduction, supply reduction, harm treatment and rehabilitation, communication, psycho-social support and community reintegration, legal policing pillar, and resource mobilization pillar are the seven pillars of drug and substance addiction management that make up the committee, he said.
Source-The Herald
