THE Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) has appealed for increased financial support, stronger law enforcement and more functional rehabilitation centres, warning that while community-led interventions are beginning to make a difference, drug and substance abuse remains a stubborn threat that cannot be defeated without sustained investment.
The call comes as police continue to intensify operations against drug syndicates and illicit alcohol producers in Bulawayo, recently busting an illegal alcohol manufacturing operation in the city centre where officers recovered hundreds of litres of ethanol, suspected counterfeit liquor and distilling equipment.
The raid, which resulted in the arrest of two suspects, formed part of a wider crackdown on unlicensed alcohol production and the distribution of dangerous substances.
Ln an interview, BURA programmes officer Winos Dube said the association’s community-based anti-drug campaign, launched last year, had strengthened communication between community leaders and residents, enabling quicker identification and reporting of drug-related activities.
“Ever since we embarked on this exercise last year, we are seeing so much intervention. Community leaders are now able to communicate with people within their respective areas,” Dube said.
He, however, cautioned against expecting immediate results, saying the complexity of the drug crisis requires long-term commitment.
“This menace is not easy. It cannot just be stopped and eliminated over a very short space of time because it is very, very challenging,” Dube said.
Last year, BURA rolled out its Substance Abuse Community Intervention Programme, which combined grassroots mobilisation with WhatsApp platforms to raise awareness on drug and substance abuse, train community leaders and improve reporting mechanisms.
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The initiative reached more than 5 000 people across Bulawayo through workshops and digital engagement, with the association describing it as a community-driven response to one of the city’s most pressing social challenges.
Building on that programme, BURA is now preparing a second phase targeting suburbs it has identified as drug abuse hotspots, including Makokoba, Old Lobengula and Pumula.
Dube said the organisation intends to train community members in counselling, early intervention and monitoring so that support is available within affected communities before cases escalate.
“We have a proposal targeting identified hotspot areas where we want to extensively go back on the ground and train people who will effectively monitor and assist in addressing issues of drug and substance abuse within their communities,” he said.
The expanded programme will require significantly more resources than the initial campaign, which relied largely on volunteers, residents and local businesses.
“The first exercise was carried out without financial support.
“Residents themselves contributed while some local businesses assisted with refreshments during workshops.
“But for a programme of this magnitude to be effective, institutions like ours need financial backing for mobility, campaign materials and community outreach.”
Dube appealed to the corporate sector, government and development partners to invest in community-led prevention initiatives.
“We are appealing to the corporate world to support us financially so that we can carry out these much-needed activities,” he said.
Beyond awareness campaigns, Dube said Zimbabwe urgently needs more rehabilitation centres staffed by qualified professionals capable of helping people recover from addiction.
“We want these trained community members to identify and assist affected people, but there must also be effective rehabilitation centres where they can be referred.
“Those centres must be manned by highly qualified people who can provide meaningful support and rehabilitation.”
Dube called for stronger enforcement against the production and sale of illicit alcohol and other illegal substances, saying recent police operations demonstrated the importance of sustained law enforcement.
“We appeal to government to strengthen the enforcement of laws that prohibit the sale of unlicensed drugs and illicit alcoholic products.
“We recently saw police uncover an illegal distillery operating without a licence.
“Questions must be asked about whether these products are being properly checked and whether they are safe for consumers.”Police have in recent weeks stepped up operations targeting drug trafficking networks and illicit alcohol producers, including the seizure of large quantities of ethanol and suspected counterfeit liquor during raids in Bulawayo.
Authorities maintain that the crackdown will continue as part of broader efforts to curb drug and substance abuse and protect communities from dangerous, unregulated products.
While welcoming the intensified police action, Dube said enforcement alone would not end the crisis, arguing that prevention, community education, counselling and rehabilitation must remain central pillars of Bulawayo’s response to drug and substance abuse.
“Our communities have shown that they are willing to play their part. What is needed now is stronger support so that these efforts can be expanded and sustained.”
