We have a list of government officers taking bribes from drug dealers – Zanu PF youth

A senior Zanu PF youth told a high level party conference in Masvingo that he knows and has names of drug dealers in Masvingo and Government officials who receive bribes in order to protect the former.

Masvingo youth secretary for security Tafara Zhou said this at a joint provincial council meeting chaired by the party provincial chairperson Rabson Mavhenyengwa and attended by Provincial Medical Director Dr Amadeus Shamu and Permanent Secretary for Masvingo Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa recently.

“As youth we know and have the names of drug peddlers in the city. We also have names of senior Government officers who are paid fees to protect these peddlers.

“We are ready to assist in the fight against drugs but our dilemma is that the offices where we need to report the criminals are the same offices manned by people receiving drug money,” said Zhou.

Zhou’s statement came after Dr Pazvakavambwa told the meeting that drug and substance abuse is increasing in Masvingo and becoming a source of major concern.

Masvingo Mirror later called Dr Pazvakavambwa to find out what he was going to do about the said list and he said the matter was going to be dealt with by the province’s Joint Operations Command (JOC).

“We alerted all security departments and the matter will be addressed in our next JOC meeting. We are not taking this lightly because this can derail our efforts in the fight against drug and substance abuse,” said Pazvakavambwa.

Masvingo Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa urged anyone with information to give tip-offs on 0775996945 or report crimes on 0392266778. Zhou’s statement comes at a time when several senior politicians and Police officers have been implicated in the drug trade. Concerns have also been raised over the few arrests and court convictions related to drug dealers despite intensified campaigns over the past few years. *_-Masvingo Mirror_*