Police clampdown on drugs laudable
THUMBS up to the ongoing police clampdown on illicit drugs and drug peddlers on all major roads in Harare.
Ten suspects were nabbed on the first day of the campaign as police redoubled their efforts to rid neighbourhoods of drug lords, who are so brazen to the extent of supplying school children.
Police deployed sniffer dogs at certain check points where vehicles and passengers’ bags are being searched for drugs.
Drug and substance abuse have become a scourge in our society and we hope the current blitz isn’t just intended to pacify the masses following a huge outcry after eight schoolgirls from Dominican Convent High were expelled and prefects demoted after they were caught red-handed abusing drugs during a leadership camp in Nyanga last month.
There was also a disturbing video of a 13-year-old girl in school uniform puffing what a number of people believe weed handed to her a man on her way to school.
One suspect, Munyaradzi Mudyavaranzi, was found in possession of 50 bottles of Broncleer cough syrup while on board a private vehicle.
He claimed to have received the consignment from someone in South Africa and he is now assisting police with investigation.
Police say they will also be arresting users, who will lead them to their suppliers.
Two other suspects were arrested in Mufakose last week after they were allegedly caught peddling crystal meth from the boot of their car while driving around the suburb.
Three other people also appeared in court recently after they were found selling drugs in Chitungwiza.
The rate at which these illicit drugs are finding their way into the hands of school going children is worrisome and if the peddlers and suppliers are not busted, we risk losing a good number of our young people to drugs.
We encourage to also target local music events where drugs are openly peddled. Events held in Mbare, Mufakose, Highfield and Kuwadzana are reportedly the most drug fuelled events in Harare, with drug suppliers and peddlers taking advantage of the laxity in security as well as the free flow of alcohol.
Most musical shows in a number of suburbs are now just a cover for drug dealers to have easy access to potential clients.
Police must work with members of the community, who seem to know who is dealing in drugs and where they can be found.
While we commend the police for mounting roadblocks to search for drugs and other illicit substance, we believe most of the drugs are already in drug dens in the neighbourhoods and only raids in those areas can reduce this drug pandemic.
Security at all our ports of entry, be they land or airports, needs to be tightened to ensure we don’t become a destination or transit for drugs. If we lose this war on drugs, we would have destroyed the future of our children, as the dealers are targeting most the young and innocent.