Political commentator Rutendo Matinyarare has claimed that his investigations into Zimbabwe’s drug trade observed the involvement of powerful political and business figures, alleging that some of the country’s biggest drug kingpins are operating behind the scenes while publicly supporting anti-drug campaigns.
By Advent Shoko
Speaking in a statement released last week, Matinyarare said he had spent months gathering information using both hidden and regular cameras, tracking what he described as drug trafficking networks stretching across Zimbabwe.
According to Matinyarare, his investigations followed alleged drug, gold and arms trafficking routes as far as Kanyemba, a remote border area in northern Zimbabwe.
His remarks come amid intensified public debate following the circulation of an audio recording purportedly linking prominent individuals to drug dealing. Matinyarare said he was not yet prepared to publicly identify anyone.
“What I can say is this: I am not yet prepared to divulge names as we are still determining whether we can release what we have recorded without endangering people’s lives,” he said.
“But our investigations have confirmed that the biggest drug kingpins the runners, dealers, and detectives work for are high-ranking politicians, their children, and some of the richest people in the country.“
The allegations come as Zimbabwe continues to battle growing concerns over drug and substance abuse, particularly among young people.
Matinyarare claimed that some of the individuals allegedly involved in the trade are the same people who publicly condemn drug abuse.
“All these people who were implicated have been very vocal about fighting drugs, yet they are the ones pushing drugs to the youth,” he alleged.
One of the most controversial claims in his statement related to what he described as the political motivations behind the drug trade.
According to Matinyarare, sources linked to his investigation suggested that profit was not the only factor driving the alleged networks.
“When we asked why these elites sell drugs to the youth, the answer was shocking,” he said.
“Yes, money is a huge motive but the most important is to pacify the unemployed youth to ensure that they never rise to revolt against the government because they constitute a huge threat.”
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He further alleged that some drug-related arrests are politically motivated and designed to eliminate competition within the illicit market.
“When arrests happen they are usually orchestrated by politicians to eliminate competitors so they can maintain a monopoly,” Matinyarare claimed.
“The politicians control the police to arrest their rivals and also to move their drugs.“
Matinyarare also alleged that narcotics enter Zimbabwe through multiple routes, including imported vehicles, trucks and aircraft.
“Drugs are brought into Zimbabwe through imported vehicles, with the drugs stashed in body panels and tires,” he said.
“When they get to Harare, the cars are disassembled, the drugs are removed, and the cars are resold.”
He further claimed that Zimbabwe’s illicit drug market now includes substances ranging from cocaine and ecstasy to methamphetamine, marijuana and broncleer-based mixtures commonly known as “bronco“.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and no evidence was presented publicly to support the claims against any specific individuals.
However, this is not the first time such claims have been made and his statement is likely to add to ongoing public debate over drug trafficking, substance abuse and accountability, issues that have increasingly become part of Zimbabwe’s national conversation as authorities continue to grapple with the growing impact of drugs on communities, particularly among young people.
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