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Writes Lloyd Rabaya
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has revoked six permits for wholesale dealers and cancelled four persons licenses who were peddling drugs in the ghettos and others for exporting to neighboring countries.
MCAZ has a mandate of releasing the country from the vice of drugs and substance abuse and thereby ensure that only safe, effective and quality medicines are available on the market.
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, MCAZ Head of Licensing and Enforcement Caroline Samatanga said the peddlers were promoting the use of Histalix, a locally produced cough mixture containing codeine, and have since put in place measures to reduce the availability.
“The Authority has put in place mechanism to control availability of codeine containing medicines by making the prescription preparations.
This means that they cannot be dispensed without the provision of a valid prescription.
However, the Authority notes with concern that over-the-counter medicines from other countries are continuously being imported illegally,” said Samatanga.
The authority is also working hand-in-glove with other government law enforcement agencies including the Police, CID Drugs, National Prosecutors Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) in order to ramp up efforts of preventing drug abuse.
Reports of drugs illegally entering into Zimbabwe through its porous borders have been made for a long time, but the vice is still tight.
MCAZ is also engaging in various trainings In provinces to educate the public about the dangers associated with drug abuse as they believe that the only way to fight the persisting problem is by involving everyone.