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Towards A Zimbabwe where there is
Peace, Justice, Dignity and Development
for All.
ZPP joined the rest of the nation in celebrating the Robert Mugabe National Youth Day which is celebrated annually
on 21 February. The theme for this year is "Alleviating substance and drug abuse " which has affected most of the
youth with a disturbing prevalence rate of 57% being recorded. High unemployment rates in the country, coupled
with poverty and despair, have resulted in increasing numbers of youthful citizens turning to drugs. Commonly used
substances among the youth include glue, Broncleer, mangemba, cane spirit, marijuana, codeine and crystal meth.
ZPP joins other CSOs in imploring the government to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act and Criminal Codification Act
which does not classify drugs such as crystal meth as illegal substances. A scourge in drug and substance abuse by
the youth coupled with an economy with high unemployment rates breeds young perpetrators who are gullible to
being manipulated with meagre payments in return to assault, harass and intimidate citizens or those who hold
different voices to the status quo. They are often coerced and incentivized by politicians into taking drugs to boost
their courage to engage in criminal activities. They are mobilised into perpetrating acts of violence to further the
interests of the paying politicians in election and other special events. Drug and substance abuse threatens the
existence of youths as responsible citizens which limits their full participation in democratic electoral processes
hence there is need for urgent intervention by communities, CSOs and government at large.
On 9 February the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association, Clement
Nyaletsossi Voule, together with other experts urged President Mnangagwa not to sign the Private Voluntary
Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill into law warning that the legislation in its current form would severely restrict
civic space and the right to freedom of association in the country. He expressed disappointment over the bill being
approved by the National Assembly. The UN experts submitted an analysis of the bill to the government in 2021,
concluding that it was incompatible with Zimbabwe’s international human rights obligations, in particular the right
to freedom of association and expression. The experts expressed deep concern that the oversight function in the
PVO Amendment Bill for civil society organisations provides for disproportionate and discretionary powers to the
newly established Office of the Registrar of PVOs, without independence from the executive. Mr Voule stated that
the bill must be revised in consultation with civil society organisations and in line with international law. The PVO
Amendment Bill has faced strong opposition, especially from civil society organisations and the international
community as in its current state, the PVO Bill is ill-informed and is a short sighted political manoeuvre with no long
term benefits for the country. The Bill was published in November 2021 and is unconstitutional as it violates various
fundamental rights and freedoms including freedom of association. If signed into law by the president, the bill will
give the government unrestricted power to deregister, target and attack civic groups who hold the government to
account.
February 2023
The Zimbabwe Peace Project Monthly Monitoring Report
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