Why SADC countries need new approach to win war against illicit drugs

ZANZIBAR: ILLEGAL drug trafficking, or narcotrafficking, is becoming an alarming global trend, affecting both affluent and developing nations, including those in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Recent findings from the third high-level consultation meeting of the Eastern & Southern Africa Commission on Drugs (ESACD) in Zanzibar indicate that current measures to combat drug trafficking and substance abuse are proving ineffective.

Despite enforcement efforts, policy implementation, public awareness campaigns and treatment initiatives, the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of prohibited drugs continue unabated.

Some SADC countries, like Tanzania, report successes attributed to policy reforms and enhanced preventive measures, including campaigns to reduce addiction and promote treatment for those affected.

Key speakers at the ESACD meeting emphasised the urgent need for regional governments to intensify efforts to combat drug trafficking and its detrimental effects on youth, which include health issues, crime, poverty, and stigma.

Zanzibar’s Second Vice-President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, alongside other officials, acknowledged the ongoing challenge of drug abuse.

President Hussein Mwinyi underscored the growing threat of the illicit drug trade in Africa and called for collective responsibility and commitment from all nations. “To win the war against illicit drugs, every country must adopt effective measures,” he stated.

Commending the efforts of the Drug Control & Enforcement Authority (DCEA) in mainland Tanzania and the Zanzibar Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (ZDCEA), Mwinyi noted that while progress has been made, the battle is far from over and requires robust regional and global collaboration.

From 2017 to April 2024, Tanzanian authorities seized significant quantities of drugs, including 1,971.9 tonnes of cannabis, 337.7 tonnes of khat, 3,536.1 kilogrammes of heroin and more. In Zanzibar, the ZDCEA confiscated 1,355.62 kilogrammes of drugs, detained 518 suspects and seized properties worth over 15.3 billion Tanzanian shillings linked to drug activities.

Former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, the ESACD Chairman, advocated for a shift from punitive measures to more humane, evidence-based drug policies that prioritise health and human rights.

“We must end the practice of arresting individuals solely for drug use or possession for personal use,” he argued, emphasising the need to focus on dismantling drug trafficking organisations.

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Motlanthe highlighted the urgent need for reliable data to inform effective drug policies, noting the poor regional surveillance of drug markets. He cautioned that the increasing presence of synthetic drugs poses a significant public health threat, further complicating efforts to combat drug abuse.

The ESACD aims to promote informed discussions about humane and effective drug policies while encouraging regional cooperation. “Drugs are a health and social issue that require comprehensive, multi-faceted approaches,” he concluded.

Ms Maria Sabbatelli from the European Commission echoed these sentiments, stressing that effective drug policies must align with sustainable development and human rights principles.

The discussions at the ESACD meeting emphasised the necessity for new strategies to tackle the evolving challenges of drug trafficking and abuse in the region.