Miss International First Runner-Up Yollanda Chimbarami Calls for Economic Empowerment in Zimbabwe’s Fight Against Drug Abuse
Miss International 1st Runner-Up Yollanda Chimbarami is pushing for stronger economic empowerment programmes as part of Zimbabwe’s response to drug and substance abuse. She believes that recovery should go beyond awareness campaigns and rehabilitation services and must include practical income opportunities for people rebuilding their lives. Her message comes at a time when communities across Zimbabwe are dealing with rising cases of addiction that affect families, productivity and social stability. She argues that without financial independence, many recovering individuals struggle to reintegrate fully into society. Her position places economic strengthening at the centre of long term recovery solutions.
Yollanda shared her views after attending a stakeholders’ engagement meeting held at the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works’ National Disaster Management Centre. The meeting brought together key partners working on addiction prevention and recovery strategies across the country. These included Zimbabwe Red Cross Society, Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Mutsa Bees Honey Company and Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe, among others. The discussions focused on strengthening coordination and improving the national response to substance abuse. The engagement also highlighted the importance of community driven solutions that support both prevention and recovery.
The session centred on Zimbabwe’s National Multi-Sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan (2024 to 2030), which outlines seven strategic pillars to guide national efforts. Yollanda emphasized that Pillar 7, which focuses on resource mobilisation and economic strengthening, is especially important for sustainable recovery. She said many programmes focus heavily on awareness and rehabilitation but often fail to address what happens after treatment. “Recovery must be supported by sustainable livelihoods and opportunities, not just awareness campaigns and rehabilitation programmes,” she said. Her statement reflects a growing concern that economic exclusion can lead to relapse if not addressed through structured support systems.
She also highlighted a practical example led by Pastor Charity, who supports recovering addicts in creating marketable products from recyclable materials. Participants transform items such as old cassette tapes, compact discs, bottles and packaging waste into accessories and useful goods. This initiative provides a direct source of income while also promoting environmental responsibility. It restores dignity and builds confidence among participants who often struggle with social stigma after recovery. The approach shows how structured economic activities can support both personal healing and community sustainability.
Yollanda linked these efforts to broader development goals, noting alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 12, which promotes responsible consumption and production. She said initiatives that combine recycling, entrepreneurship and recovery support can create long term impact if properly funded and expanded. She urged government bodies, private sector partners and civil society organisations, including National Disaster Management Centre, to strengthen collaboration in supporting such programmes. She stressed that recovery systems must be designed to reduce dependency and build independence. “Real change happens when prevention, recovery and economic empowerment work together,” she said, reinforcing her call for a holistic national strategy that integrates social and economic solutions.
