In a bold display of provincial leadership and patriotism, Mashonaland East has positioned itself as a national trailblazer in the war against drug and substance abuse, rolling out a game-changing fundraising drive that has shaken the nation into action.
With Zimbabwe’s future hanging in the balance as more young people fall victim to dangerous narcotics, the Marondera-based campaign proved that real change begins when communities refuse to be bystanders. Targeting US$250,000, the province instead smashed expectations, raking in over US$400,000, becoming the first province to independently mobilise resources at such a massive scale for the anti-drug fight.
Minister of Youth Empowerment and Vocational Training, Honourable Tino Machakaire, declared that Mashonaland East’s approach was more than a mere fundraiser, it was a clarion call to the rest of Zimbabwe to “rise, mobilise and safeguard future generations.” Echoing similar sentiments, Local Government Minister, Honourable Daniel Garwe, warned that drug abuse had become a national security issue that no province could afford to ignore, while Advocate Itayi Ndudzo, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution and architect of the campaign, described the success as “a template for provincial responsibility.”
Leading from the front, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga pledged US$30 000, with Honourable Tino Machakaire following behind with US$20 000, Senate President Mabel Chinomona committing US$15 000, and Honourable Daniel Garwe contributing US$10 000. All cabinet ministers from the province collectively added US$5 000 each, while the private sector, led by Doves Funeral Services CEO Farai Matsika, who hails from Mashonaland East, stepped up with a remarkable US$50 000, demonstrating a powerful blend of government and corporate resolve in tackling the drug crisis head-on.
The initiative follows President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s launch of the national drug and substance abuse fundraising campaign in June, which mobilised over US$3 million in pledges, signalling a national consensus that the youth must be protected at any cost.
Critics turned cheerleaders as Mashonaland East not only talked about shared responsibility but demonstrated it, igniting calls for other provinces to replicate its aggressive, home-grown strategy. Analysts say the province has revived the true spirit of “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” by proving that economic growth means nothing if the future workforce is destroyed by drugs.
By surpassing its target and proving that solutions lie in unity, Mashonaland East has done more than raise money, it has raised the bar, sending a loud and electrifying message across Zimbabwe: each province must not wait to be helped, but must lead by example, just as Mashonaland East has done.
