By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Zimbabwe has intensified its fight against drug abuse, with authorities warning that anyone found unlawfully dealing in or possessing dangerous substances will face tough penalties.
This comes as President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repeatedly underscored the government’s determination to end the scourge of drug and substance abuse that is threatening communities across the country.
In the latest case, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that 44-year-old Newlife Mutambasere of Bulawayo was convicted of unlawful possession of dagga and sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment by the Tredgold Magistrates’ Court.
Mutambasere was arrested on August 23, 2025, after detectives acted on a tip-off and found him in possession of 28 sachets of dagga weighing 125 grams, valued at ZIG 3,750. He had no licence or permit to possess the drug.
The court initially handed him a 12-month sentence, with four months suspended for five years on condition of good behavior, leaving him to serve an effective eight months.
Authorities said the conviction sends a clear message to would-be offenders. “Anyone found dealing in or unlawfully possessing dangerous drugs will face the full wrath of the law, as drugs continue to threaten the wellbeing of communities and young people in Zimbabwe,” the NPA said in a statement.
The ruling comes at a time when the government is tightening efforts to tackle drug abuse through community awareness campaigns, stricter enforcement of laws, and rehabilitation initiatives.
President Mnangagwa has repeatedly called for a united national front against drugs, describing the problem as a national security and public health threat that undermines the future of young Zimbabweans.
With this latest conviction, Zimbabwe’s justice and law enforcement authorities have reiterated their commitment to the President’s call: to stamp out drug abuse and safeguard the nation’s youth from its devastating effects.