Category: MENTAL HEALTH

Zimbabwe to Begin Drug Testing for Public Transport and Mshikashika Drivers

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has received drug testing equipment worth US$60,000 from the Abused Substances and Diagnostics Management (ASDM) project in an effort to curb drug- and alcohol-induced road traffic accidents. The equipment will be deployed nationwide to screen public transport drivers for intoxication. Zimbabwe has one of the highest road traffic accident rates in Sub-Saharan Africa. Data from the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe shows that between January and May 2024, the country recorded 21,183 crashes and 860 fatalities—an average of 141 accidents and nearly six deaths per day.…

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High Rates of Depression Among GBV Survivors in Zimbabwe Raise Concern

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The prevalence of mental health disorders, particularly depression, among women who experience Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Zimbabwe is estimated to be around 77%. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2019, nearly 40% of women and girls in Zimbabwe experience physical violence in their lifetime, while 12% of women aged 15-49 have suffered sexual violence. Speaking at a recent Data to Policy meeting in Harare, Mildred Mapani, an economist in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, and Small and Medium Enterprise Development, emphasized the need to…

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Drug Users Call for Affordable Public Rehabilitation Centres

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere, recently in Gweru Persons Who Use and Inject Drugs (PWUID) have urged the government to expedite the establishment of public rehabilitation centres, citing unaffordable costs at private facilities. Currently, there are no state-owned rehab centres, but the government claims to have identified suitable locations across all provinces for future facilities. During a two-day harm reduction workshop organized by SAYWHAT in Gweru, Jonathan, a participant and drug user, posed a question to Chipo Ziweva, the Mental Health Officer from the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s Bulawayo Provincial…

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Drug and Substance Abuse Hits Zimbabwe’s Working Class Hard

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwaris Contrary to the common belief that drug and substance abuse primarily affects unemployed youth and adolescents, recent data reveals that Zimbabwe’s working class faces a similarly high incidence of substance use. According to national data, males represent the majority of mental health cases linked to drug and substance use, underscoring the severe impact on mental health among this demographic. You find that the working class in Zimbabwe also has a high usage of illicit drugs and substances. Adolescents have a 37 percent rate of drug and substance…

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PSH Takes A Stand Against Drug And Substance Abuse In Harare

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Taking the fight against a disturbing trend of drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe were Chadcombe and Msasa Park residents who held a campaign against this scourge in partnership with Faith Ministries International Chadcombe, alongside Population Solutions for Health (PSH), the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN). Gogo Rwasunda a resident in Masasa Park told this publication  she had to attend the event as her son is battling with drug and substance misuse. She resonated with the motto, “The Strength is in you to turn down…

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Collaboration In Workplace Mental Health Leads To A Healthier Workforce

Abigail T.S. Mudokwani

By Abigail T.S. Mudokwani The World Health Organisation (WHO), estimates that depression and anxiety cause twelve billion lost working days annually, and that the diminished productivity caused by these two mental health issues alone costs the world economy $1 trillion (USD) annually. As a result, there is an increasing need for creating psychologically safe work environments. As employers deepen their focus on mental health, a debate has inadvertently been sparked on who between the employer and the employee is responsible for workplace mental health. One school of thinking holds that…

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The Burden Of Unpaid Care Work On The Mental Health Of Low-earning Women in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Every morning, Felistas Makombe (32), from Ruwa has to wake up early and leave for work around 5:00 Am. She works as a cleaner in one of the leading cleaning companies in Zimbabwe. She has to take the earliest bus into town to ensure she gets to work on time and starts cleaning before offices open. With the ongoing road rehabilitation projects in Harare, most roads have been closed and motorists have to either make plans to leave work early or find alternative routes on time lest…

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PSH commemorates the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Population Solutions for Health (PSH) today joined the world in commemorating the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. At an event held at the Embassy of Sweden in Harare, youngsters from high school and some universities alongside other youths were commended for opening up on drug and substance abuse which the Ambassador of Sweden to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Per Lindgärde finds helpful in reducing further damage caused by this scourge. The commemoration comes at a time when PSH is spearheading a campaign dubbed The Strength…

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The Church’s Role In Addressing Mental Health Challenges Amongst Believers

Chaplain Simbarashe Chenjerai

By Chaplain Simbarashe Chenjerai The world is facing a plethora of challenges such wars, famines, unemployment, droughts, cyclones among other ills. This has resulted in a number of public health challenges including mental health related woes. Over the years, there has been an increase in the incidence of drug and substance abuse, depression, anxiety among other mental health challenges. It is against this background that this article seeks to explore the role of the Church in addressing the growing mental health scourge. Christians and believers are not immune to mental…

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United For Prevention Coalition Sensitises Parliament on Need to Integrate Drug and Substance Abuse In the National HIV Prevention Response

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to capacitate members of Parliament with information and share the latest data and trends regarding the scourge of drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe, SAFAIDS recently held a one-day capacity-building workshop with members from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health. While traditional methods of administering drugs and substances such as smoking and ingestion remain prevalent, the latest trends such as drug injection and Bluetooth or Flashblood whereby a syringe full of intoxicated blood is passed from someone who has just injected heroin to someone…

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