Niël Terblanché
The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has inaugurated a new National Drug Control Commission (NDCC). Namibia ratified and acceded to the UN Convention against Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 in 2009.
Namibia also joined the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, as well as the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. Dr Kalumbi Shangula, the Minister of Health and Social Services, during the inauguration of the commission, said that Namibia had experienced an increase in the usage of illicit drugs since 2021. He mentioned that cannabis is the most commonly abused illicit substance in Namibia.
“In 1996, Namibia launched the first edition of the National Drug Control Master Plan. The third edition of this National Plan is the latest edition and covers the period from 2020 to 2025. It was endorsed by the Cabinet and aligns with the pillars of effective governance; service delivery; economic advancement; social progression; and infrastructure development under the Harambee Prosperity Plan One covering the years 2016/17-2019/20,” he said.
Shangula said that in order to accomplish Vision 2030, it is vital that the talents, potential and abilities of all Namibians are brought to bear and harnessed.
“It is particularly important to involve and engage young people in these processes. These considerations are also important when we look at issues such as the challenges faced by persons who use illicit substances. Our approach should be to put measures in place and provide options to enable such persons to live healthier and more productive lives,” the Minister added.
He said that Namibia faces enormous challenges stemming from the availability of illicit drugs and other substances in the country. Available information and statistics indicate that Namibia is no longer simply a transit country for illicit drugs.
“There is an increasing number of users of illicit drugs of different ages. Unfortunately, even children of a very young age have become users of such substances, leading to addiction and other negative consequences,” he said.
The harm caused by the use of illicit drugs, such as the intravenous administration of heroin and other drugs, is devastating to the physical and mental health of the drug users and could predispose them to a host of other burdensome illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and kidney disease.
“These drug users are often subjected to social exclusion which further perpetuates the cycle of illicit drug use. We should take decisive action towards countering drug trafficking in order to safeguard all people in Namibia from the devasting and long-term effects of illicit drug use,”Shangula added.
According to Shangula, drug trafficking is usually the first link in the chain of other forms of organised crime, leading to the perpetuation of poverty and inequality among drug users while the criminals of organised crime enjoy ill-gotten wealth.
He said that Cabinet approved the establishment of the National Drug Control Commission under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and Social Services to oversee the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan6 in 1999.
“The new National Drug Control Commission is one of the interventions aimed at addressing this challenge. I believe that by carrying out its mandate, the Commission will buttress our national resolve to strengthen ongoing efforts to make our people and communities safer from the potential harm that is inherent in the trade, distribution and use, of illicit drugs,” he said.
According to the Minister, the National Drug Control Master Plan recognises the centrality of the good health of all people in Namibia as a prerequisite for national development.
“Without health, both physically and mentally, our nation will not be able to develop. It is critical to address the health and social effects of drug use, not only the health and well-being of those involved but also on our society and country as a whole,” he said.
Shangula said that the problem of illicit drug use must be seen as a priority and that it should be addressed through prevention and treatment interventions.
“In caring for the people’s health and wellbeing, there is a need to promote their safety and protection against criminals who prey on vulnerable members of society for personal gain,” he said
According to Shangula, the appointment of the National Drug Control Commission is paramount to ensure the effective implementation of the nine pillars of the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) which will enhance national management, oversight, reporting, monitoring and evaluation of the National Drug Control Master Plan (2019/20-2023/24).
It will further enhance the implementation of measures to advance drug demand reduction, address health issues associated with drug use, in particular the use of injectable drugs, the implementation of alternative measures to incarceration for drug use, and promotion of proportionate age and gender sentencing, the facilitation of access to controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes, while preventing their diversion, the implementation of measures to reduce the supply of drugs, along with countering enablers of drug trafficking: firearms, corruption and money laundering.
In addition, it is aimed at instituting measures to prevent organized crime associated with illicit drug trafficking to address cross-cutting issues related to illicit drugs and vulnerable population groups, especially the youth, women and marginalized communities and finally, and to strengthen international and regional cooperation based on the principle of common and shared responsibility.
“We must recognise the profound impact that the Commission will have on the supply and demand reduction strategy. The Commission will also play a leading role in galvanizing relevant stakeholders to work synergistically in order to ensure the National Drug Control Master Plan is implemented effectively in order to reduce the harmful use of legal and illegal drugs,” the Minister said.
Shangula is of the opinion that the inauguration of the new Commission will provide an opportunity for Namibia to restate the country’s political commitments towards achieving the objectives of the Ministerial Declaration under the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
“Namibia remains committed to further strengthening cooperation and coordination among authorities in the health, education, social, justice and law enforcement sectors, to effectively combat the trafficking of narcotic drugs and to provide the necessary care to those who use or are affected by narcotic drugs,” Shangula said.
The health Minister has since called on all stakeholders to assume their own roles as well as the common and shared responsibilities, not only to successfully implement the National Drug Control Master Plan but also to make a contribution towards addressing stigma, exclusion, poverty and inequality affecting many vulnerable Namibians.
