Mashonaland Central drug-peddling arrests rose to 387 in a year as ZimStat data shows nationwide surge

Mashonaland Central drug-peddling arrests rose to 387 in a year as ZimStat data shows nationwide surge
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Drug-peddling arrests in Mashonaland Central increased from 97 cases in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 387 by the third quarter of 2025, according to figures published by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) drawn from Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) quarterly crime reports.

The rise forms part of a nationwide trend in which 32,084 suspected drug peddlers were arrested between Q4 2024 and Q3 2025, ZimStat figures show. Over the same period, national quarterly arrests increased from 5,079 in Q4 2024 to 11,926 by Q3 2025.

While Harare recorded the highest cumulative total in the data set, the ZimStat figures indicate that all 10 provinces saw increases over the reporting period, pointing to a problem affecting both urban and rural communities.

The data cited shows the three Mashonaland provinces recorded a combined 5,854 arrests over the four quarters. Mashonaland West had 2,655 cumulative arrests, while Mashonaland East’s quarterly figures rose from 106 to 934. Mashonaland Central, although lower than the other two, still recorded a steady climb from 97 to 387.

Commenting on the figures, Wilson Box, director of the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network, argued for a public-health approach alongside enforcement.

“Our organisation views drug and substance abuse as a public health issue rather than a criminal matter,” Box said. “The problem is mainly affecting youths, who make up the majority of the statistics.”

Box attributed the higher urban figures to several factors. “The rising urban statistics can be attributed to rural-to-urban migration, as well as the continuous introduction of new drugs onto the market. Urban areas like Harare are often used as test markets for these substances,” he said.

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Educationist Lancelot Choruwa linked the trend to unemployment. “Lack of employment opportunities is contributing to the spike in drug peddling and usage in urban areas,” he said, according to the report.

Social worker Angela Chipato, of Budiriro-based NGO Hope for Zimbabwe, said the figures underline the need to strengthen rehabilitation and prevention programmes alongside criminal enforcement, warning that a shortage of rehabilitation facilities and trained personnel is compounding the challenge.

Chipato said known rehabilitation facilities are concentrated mainly in Harare and Bulawayo, leaving many rural and peri-urban communities without nearby services. She also cited pressure on public psychiatric institutions that also handle addiction cases.

A parliamentary investigation by the Portfolio Committee on Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training in March 2025 found that Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South had no drug rehabilitation centres, the report said. It added that government has since opened three rehabilitation centres in Victoria Falls, Harare and Kwekwe under the Multisectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan for 2024 to 2030, while Public Service Minister Edgar Moyo has been quoted saying every district should have at least one rehabilitation centre.

For Mashonaland Central communities, the ZimStat trend is likely to renew calls for stronger community-based prevention work, youth support programmes and accessible counselling services, alongside efforts to disrupt drug supply chains.

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