Concerns over rising drug and substance abuse among young people dominated discussions at the 2025 Bulawayo budget review meeting for the youths held on Friday, as residents criticised authorities for failing to arrest and prosecute drug dealers.
Community members who attended the meeting expressed frustration with the police and city officials, saying drug peddling continues unchecked while known dealers roam free despite being reported.
Nomalanga Dube, a local resident, raised alarm over how drugs are openly sold in parts of the city, particularly along 5th and 6th Avenue.
“Municipal police knock off at 4:30pm, but from 5pm onwards drugs are sold openly along those streets. They now call the drugs ‘yogurt’,” she said.
Dube explained that drug dealers use coded language to avoid detection by other community members.
“Buyers don’t say they want drugs. They simply ask for ‘yogurt’ to confuse anyone nearby about the nature of the transaction,” she added.
She also questioned the effectiveness of law enforcement, accusing the police of releasing suspects shortly after arrest.
“The city council says it works with the police, but it’s the same police who release the very people they arrest,” she said.
Another resident, Amanda Sibanda, echoed similar frustrations, accusing the police of inaction and creating a confusing reporting process.
“If I report drug dealing to the police, they might arrest the suspect at 8am, but by 10am that person is already out,” she said. “At police headquarters, you’re sent from one officer to another. It feels like a game of hide and seek.”
Tinashe Muchacha criticised the limited capacity of the city’s drug rehabilitation system.
“Ingutsheni has more than 700 patients, and even then, they can only keep someone for two weeks before releasing them,” he said.
Muchacha also questioned why users are arrested while dealers remain untouched.
“If I report myself as a drug user, I’ll be arrested by the end of the day. But those selling drugs face no consequences. How is that possible?” he asked.
He went on to name a well-known local drug dealer, accusing him of having operated openly for years.
“There are three known drug dealers. One of them, Mahadebe, has been selling drugs since I was born. She now even has surveillance cameras at her house. Last year alone, 17 youths ended up in Ingutsheni after buying drugs from her,” he said.
Martin Nyathi added that the problem has persisted for years and urged the city to take the issue seriously.
“Drugs are not new in Bulawayo. People have been dying from substances like tshengu for a long time. The council must act,” he said.
Responding to the concerns, Bulawayo City Council Principal Community Services Officer John Mpofu acknowledged the severity of the crisis.
“This is a national issue, not just a Bulawayo problem. Drug abuse affects the entire country and even other countries,” he said.
Mpofu stressed the shared responsibility in addressing the problem.
“The responsibility lies with all of us. It is heartbreaking to see young people waste their lives to drugs and end up at Ingutsheni,” he said.
He confirmed that Bulawayo currently lacks a dedicated rehabilitation centre.
“We don’t have a standalone rehab centre. Ingutsheni only handles mental health cases. Unfortunately, that’s all we have for now,” he said.
Mpofu noted that efforts are underway at the national level to identify buildings that could be converted into rehabilitation centres. In the meantime, recreational and health centres are being used to raise awareness about the dangers of drug use.
Nkosiphile Dube, an Environmental Health Officer with the City Council, urged residents to remain persistent when reporting drug-related cases.
“We work closely with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, and we encourage residents to keep reporting. If one officer turns you away, keep pushing until you reach the officer in charge,” he said.
However, he noted that the council has limited influence over police conduct.
“We collaborate with the police, but we cannot dictate how they carry out their duties,” he added.
