Staff Reporter

The Harare Civil Society Organizations (HSCOs) have implored the Government to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act and Criminal Codification Act following a ZANU PF Youth League event entitled “No to drugs abuse” hosted this weekend in Amaveni, Kwekwe.

The HSCOs indicated that there was need for the Government to review its current legislation on drugs, to include various types of drugs like crystal meth that are not overtly covered by the Criminal Codification Act and the Dangerous Act.

Tendai Makururo who is a member of the Harare Civil Society Organizations said that the Dangerous Drug Act did not classify the lethal drugs such as crystal meth as illegal.

“We advocate for the amendment of the Dangerous Drugs Act and Criminal Codification Act as this law does not categorize other drugs (Is this one law or they’re 2) such as crystal meth as illegal substances. Crystal meth has become one of the leading drugs abused by youths, including schoolchildren. It is a pity that infants at kindergarten are being lured into taking these lethal drugs. It is best if the Government is to amend this act,” she said.

Crystal meth is one of the drugs which are not listed in the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Other drugs such as methamphetamine (guka/mutoriro or dombo) are also not spelt out in the Criminal Code or the Dangerous Act. Therefore, the youth are taking advantage of these legal gaps and are now using drugs that do not attract court action such as sodium polyacrylate extracted from diapers because diapers or pads are legal products found everywhere.

So far, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has arrested 2 000 people in its intensified operations against drug abuse.