By Own Correspondent

AN entrepreneur in the mining sector has rolled out a program to offer drug abusers jobs in a bid to contribute towards community empowerment.

Officials in Zimbabwe, which is facing a growing problem of substance abuse — especially among unemployed youth, say arrests have surged in 2024, with close to 2,400 people taken into custody so far. Officials say economic difficulties are hampering efforts to curb the problem.

But Kundai Chidamba, a 42 years old entrepreneur says he is now deploying jobs at his company to support the youngsters.

“I realized they were lives that were being wasted. I need to rescue them, I thought.  Why not give it a try? I approached them.

“They were not employed and took up my offer immediately and within two months, they had transformed to breadwinners. If you see them right now, you may not believe that they were once drug addicts,” he said.

Chidamba started his own company at the age of 30 from very humble beginnings but to date the company has grown rapidly.  

“What motivated me into entrepreneurship was the realisation that some of the people who owned companies were my age group.So I was employed by my age mates. Then I gave it a thought and said no, I can do it. It took courage to quit my job and start my own company,” he said.

As part of his strategy to deal with drug abuse, addicts are taken to the work sites, away from their community where they are not permitted to use drugs and allow them to slowly ease their addictions.

“And when we are into business we do drug testing. We do not permit drug use.  So if one is at work, no use of drugs is allowed.

“So if their shift at the work site is about a month-long, it means they will not be using drugs throughout that period. So imagine if they spent a full month in abstinence and then go back home, chances of relapse are slim,” added Chidamba.