Zimbabwe Plans Mandatory Drug Testing in Schools

The Zimbabwean government is considering mandatory drug testing for students and employees as part of a proposed legal amendment aimed at tackling rising drug and substance abuse, according to Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.

Speaking at the National Prayer Day in Mutare, Muchinguri-Kashiri who also chairs the National Committee on Drug and Substance Abuse said the plan would authorize inspections in schools and require testing similar to COVID-19 health measures.

She warned that drug trafficking would attract severe penalties of up to 15 years in prison, with special courts being established to handle such cases. Health personnel will be trained to carry out tests using blood, saliva, and hair samples, while self-testing kits will be made available to help parents monitor their children. Rehabilitated users will receive vocational training for reintegration.

The minister blamed the surge in drug use on poverty, unemployment, peer pressure, porous borders, and the post-pandemic crisis, noting that children as young as eight have been admitted to rehabilitation centers. She also accused unnamed foreign actors of flooding Zimbabwe with narcotics to destabilize the country and weaken its economy.

Muchinguri-Kashiri urged families, churches, and traditional leaders to play a greater role in addressing the crisis and promoting moral values. She concluded by reaffirming Zanu-PF’s support for extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term beyond 2030 and highlighted progress in food security, infrastructure, mining, and youth empowerment.