Tiyani Hahlani
Centre News Hub
MASVINGO- Families battling the devastating effects of drug and substance abuse in Masvingo may soon find relief after Masvingo City Council moved to allocate land in Chesvingo for the construction of a Community Rehabilitation Centre under an initiative linked to the Office of the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa.
The proposed facility is expected to be constructed on Institutional Stand Number 21642, Chesvingo, measuring 7,400 square meters, before being donated to the City of Masvingo upon completion.
The development comes at a time when communities across the city are increasingly raising concerns over the growing impact of drug and substance abuse, particularly among young people, with residents linking the crisis to school dropouts, family breakdowns, crime, and rising cases of youth loitering in some suburbs.
According to a report presented recently in a full council meeting from the town Planning department, the request for land followed communication from the Director of Infrastructure Development in the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo Province.
Council was informed that the site was selected for its accessibility and the availability of off-site infrastructure, both key considerations for a community-based rehabilitation facility.
However, the identified stand had previously been earmarked for subdivision under Council Resolution Minute Number 303C (xi) dated November 12, 2020. The subdivision process had not yet been completed, prompting council to rescind the earlier resolution to pave way for the rehabilitation project.
Council subsequently resolved that the previous resolution permitting subdivision of the stand be withdrawn and that Stand Number 21642 Chesvingo be allocated for the development of the rehabilitation center.
Speaking with this publication, the Community Action Group for ED (CAG4ED) member Regina Munyamani, who lost her teenage child due to drug abuse, welcomed the proposed rehabilitation center, saying the initiative would help reduce drug abuse cases among young people in communities.
“We are happy with the initiative that the Office of the First Lady is doing in constructing a rehabilitation center in Masvingo, as it will reduce the rate at which children are taking drugs in the community,” she said.
Munyamani said many families have struggled to access appropriate rehabilitation services for affected youths, leaving communities with limited options for dealing with addiction.
“We as the community are happy with this initiative that is going to happen in Masvingo since Ngomahuru is not a rehabilitation center but a psychiatric hospital, and it is not meant for the rehabilitation of drug abusers,” she said.
Residents and community stakeholders have increasingly called for structured rehabilitation and recovery facilities, arguing that many households are struggling to cope with the emotional, social, and financial burden associated with addiction.
The proposed rehabilitation center is expected to become part of broader efforts to address substance abuse through treatment, counselling, and reintegration support for affected individuals.
For many families affected by addiction, the planned Chesvingo rehabilitation center represents more than just another infrastructure project; it is being viewed as a long-awaited intervention that could help restore hope to communities grappling with the growing drug crisis.
