President Mnangagwa Rallies Recruits Against Drug Networks

By Presidential Affairs Editor Abel Karowangoro 

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on newly graduated police officers to intensify the fight against drug abuse and trafficking, describing the scourge as a growing threat to national security and the country’s youth.

Addressing recruits during the Intake 1 of 2024 Presidential Graduation Parade, the President challenged the officers to uphold discipline and professionalism as they join the force at a time when drug and substance abuse cases are on the rise.

President Mnangagwa said the government remains committed to eradicating drug networks and urged the graduates to play a frontline role in dismantling syndicates involved in the distribution and consumption of illicit substances.

“Drug abuse is destroying families and undermining our national development agenda.

You must stand firm in defending our communities,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said that the fight against drugs is aligned with the Second Republic’s broader development goals under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritizes social protection, community safety and youth empowerment.

The President also reminded the officers of their constitutional mandate to protect life and property, urging them to carry out their duties without fear or favour while respecting human rights.

Senior government officials, security service chiefs and families of the graduates attended the ceremony, which marked the culmination of months of training for the recruits.

The newly commissioned officers are expected to be deployed across the country to bolster law enforcement efforts, particularly in urban centers where drug-related crimes have become increasingly prevalent.