CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Fr. Mwansa Pintu, Zambia, March 1999
THEME = DRUGS
Although elders in Zambia have smoked dagga since time immemorial,
drug trafficking and abuse in drug- taking now seem to be increasing
Where and how drug trafficking began is now irrelevant, but what one thing is certain - Zambia has recently become a major distribution point for illicit narcotic and psychotropic substances both within the region and to other countries in Europe and North America
Zambia's reputation is such that now, if you travel overseas and let it be known that you are from Zambia, the response from Customs is an immediate search.
The fight against drug trafficking goes on and is far from being won, but Mr. Raphael Mungole, Zambia's Drug Enforcement Commissioner, proudly believes that the situation will be reversed and that Zambia will no longer be stigmatised as being among the drug centres of Africa.
He says the government's political will to control the situation, resulted, in 1997, with the signing by President Frederick Chiluba, of the National Drugs Control Strategy Plan which is greatly helping to reduce trafficking.
The relationship between drugs, poverty, violent crime, smuggling, corruption etc. is well known, as is the inevitable spillover into increased usage and abuse of illicit drugs. The assumption that trafficking can carry on without really affecting the country it takes place in, is fantasy. Indeed, taking it one step further, President Chiluba in his foreword to the Master Plan Against Drugs, says that: «Drug trafficking and its related money laundering activities, are being viewed as a threat to the security of mankind.»
Unfortunately, most Zambians too often take drug abuse lightly as not really affecting the nation. But an agreement has been signed with the European Union, for a substantial grant-in-aid which is expected to greatly help the Drugs Enforcement Commission (DEC) reduce the amount of drugs in circulation among the general public. Public awareness campaigns on connected issues are obviously of great importance.
The DEC already has a National Education Campaign Division and a staff, which not only consists of investigative officers but social workers, psychiatrists, clinical staff and teachers. Praising his team and describing the privilege of working with them, Mr. Mungole refers to them as some of the most experienced people in the country on reducing dependency on drugs.
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CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
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