The Labour Economists and African Democrats (LEAD), an opposition political party, has proposed repurposing the property owned by Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume into a drug rehabilitation center instead of demolishing it.
LEAD president Linda Masarira reached out this week to retired Justice Maphios Cheda, the Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into Harare Urban Planning and Governance, outlining her proposal. She suggests that the controversial hostel in Belvedere, which Mafume had built without proper authorization, be transformed into a center to address the growing drug abuse issue in Zimbabwe.
In her letter, Masarira acknowledged the importance of urban planning regulations but urged the commission to consider an alternative approach, proposing the hostel as a government-supported facility for tackling substance abuse, especially among the youth. She highlighted that Zimbabwe is currently grappling with an increasing number of young people struggling with drug and substance abuse, while the few existing rehabilitation centers are often out of reach for those from lower-income backgrounds.
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Masarira further argued that converting the building into a rehabilitation center would be a practical and beneficial solution, both socially and financially. She emphasized that repurposing the structure for rehabilitation would save costs compared to demolition and serve a pressing social need. She also suggested that partnerships between the government, NGOs, faith-based organizations, and private sector companies could help run the facility effectively.
The LEAD president underscored the benefits of providing detoxification, counseling, mental health support, and vocational training as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program. She added that this initiative would align with both Zimbabwe’s National Drug Master Plan and global health strategies, which focus on rehabilitation rather than punitive measures.
Masarira concluded by calling on the commission to consider the proposal thoroughly before proceeding with the demolition of the property, urging that it be used for a more restorative and socially just purpose.
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