Zimbabwe’s national campaign against drug and substance abuse gained fresh momentum at the Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Sports Gala held at Garwe Stadium, where NetOne partnered Government ministries to promote youth protection through sport and digital outreach.

The event, held in Chikomba West, brought together several senior Government officials, including the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Lieutenant General (Retired) Hon A. Sanyatwe; the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Hon. Tatenda Mavetera, MP; and the Minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon. O. Ndudzo.

Their attendance reinforced President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s national call for communities and institutions to intensify efforts to safeguard young people from drug abuse.

NetOne’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Raphael Mushanawani

NetOne, the main corporate participant, positioned the gala as part of its broader national strategy to address drug abuse through community outreach, youth engagement and digital awareness campaigns. The telecommunications provider says drug and substance abuse has become a critical social and economic threat, particularly to young people, and requires coordinated responses across sectors.

Sporting activities dominated the programme, with organisers highlighting the role of structured physical activity in promoting discipline, teamwork and healthy behaviour among young people. The gala aimed to provide positive alternatives for youth while strengthening community mobilisation against harmful substances.

NetOne’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Raphael Mushanawani, said the company is using its digital platforms to expand the reach of anti-drug messaging across the country.

“Connectivity alone is not enough. Towers, fibre, broadband — these must become channels of empowerment, education and awareness,” Mushanawani said. “Our networks must serve as lines of defence, keeping young people informed, inspired and engaged.”

Under its pillars of health, education and empowerment, NetOne has been distributing digital content on drug abuse, sharing awareness material on social media, and working with schools and community groups to promote prevention and early intervention.

The company says integrating sport with digital education provides a comprehensive approach that strengthens both physical and mental well-being among young people.

Officials at the event stated that the Chikomba West programme forms part of ongoing national efforts to reduce drug exposure, support community resilience and align with Vision 2030 priorities on health and youth development.

NetOne indicated that it will continue expanding anti-drug initiatives through technology, community programmes and youth-centred interventions.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on Zanu PF members to place the party’s collective objectives ahead of personal interests, reminding them of the importance of discipline and respect for the party Constitution.

Addressing the 389th Politburo meeting on Wednesday afternoon, the Zanu PF First Secretary expressed satisfaction with how party structures across provinces continue to engage with grassroots members.

“It is encouraging that our party organs remain accountable to the grassroots. Musangano wakasimba kuma cells and villages,” President Mnangagwa said.

He commended leaders at district, provincial and national levels for consistently relaying resolutions from the 22nd National People’s Conference to their structures. Provincial leadership is currently holding inter-district feedback meetings to brief members on the outcomes of the conference.

“We must ensure that no community and no citizen is overlooked. Zanu PF remains a people’s party, open and ready to serve all Zimbabweans,” he said.

Mnangagwa urged party members to foster unity as they conduct the ongoing feedback programmes.

“In these grassroots engagement exercises, let us strengthen party unity and uphold our revolutionary principles. No individual should place themselves above the party,” he said.

He also stressed that political and socio-economic activities within communities should always align with Zanu PF’s core aims and objectives.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, last week paid tribute to the late Archbishop Paul Mwazha of the African Apostolic Church, who was recently declared a National Hero, as he opened the 389th session of the ZANU PF Politburo — the ruling party’s final meeting of 2025.

Addressing senior party officials at the ZANU PF Headquarters, President Mnangagwa described Archbishop Mwazha as “a towering spiritual figure whose moral guidance and commitment to nation-building earned him a revered place in Zimbabwe’s history.”

The Politburo meeting set the tone for upcoming Central Committee and National Consultative Assembly gatherings that will close the party’s calendar year.

President Mnangagwa said the 2025 political cycle was marked by strengthened unity within both the party and the nation, which he credited for enabling Zimbabwe to withstand economic and geopolitical pressures.

NDS1 Achievements, NDS2 Rollout Highlighted

The President reaffirmed the administration’s focus on national development, noting the “successful completion” of the National Development Strategy 1 (2021–2025) and the launch of its successor, NDS2 (2026–2030).

He said both frameworks were “people-driven roadmaps” that guided the nation’s economic and social transformation.

He added that resolutions from the 22nd National People’s Conference informed the crafting of the 2026 National Budget, ensuring alignment between party priorities and national fiscal planning.

Mnangagwa directed party structures to synchronize mobilisation, messaging, and grassroots engagement with NDS2’s key objectives, arguing that doing so would “accelerate economic growth and uplift the quality of life for all citizens.”

Leadership Recalibration and Embracing Technology

The President commended recent strategic workshops for both the Politburo and Central Committee, saying the platforms helped “recalibrate leadership roles” in the face of shifting domestic and global dynamics.

He urged ZANU PF to remain anchored in liberation values while adapting to contemporary tools, including ICTs and artificial intelligence. Mastery of emerging technologies, he said, was vital for effective political communication, modern governance, and youth engagement.

Economic Growth and Regional Diplomacy

Mnangagwa reported continued economic expansion, driven by key sectors such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism, construction, infrastructure development, and diaspora remittances.

On foreign policy, he praised deepening cooperation with neighbours Mozambique and Zambia through the Bi-National Commissions. These engagements, he said, were fostering regional integration, development, and peace.

However, the President also called for vigilance, warning against “counter-revolutionary elements” seeking to undermine national progress and party cohesion.

A Call for Discipline and Unity

Wrapping up the session, Mnangagwa reiterated that unity, discipline, and loyalty remained central to ZANU PF’s longevity and the nation’s stability.

“As we move into 2026, our collective resolve, hard work, and adherence to our revolutionary ethos will determine the pace of Zimbabwe’s transformation,” he said.

The Politburo adjourned with preparations underway for the Central Committee and National Consultative Assembly, which will evaluate the year’s performance and chart the party’s 2026 agenda.