As part of the national efforts to liberate society from the scourge of drug abuse, the Northern Zone Office of the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) has conducted a special training program for government leaders from the district to the sub-village level in Same District, Kilimanjaro Region.
The training, held today, May 29, 2025, at the Same District Council Hall, aimed to equip these leaders with knowledge and tools to identify, prevent, and address the challenges associated with drug abuse and illegal drug trafficking.
Participants were also urged to uphold ethics, accountability, and community cooperation in the fight against drugs.
Speaking during the opening of the training, the District Commissioner of Same, Kasilda Mgeni, stated that drug abuse not only poses serious health risks but also weakens the economy, disrupts families, erodes moral values, diminishes the national workforce, and increases criminal activity.
She said, “This is a crisis that requires a united front from leaders, parents, and teachers, to the youth themselves, who are the most affected by drug abuse. I urge you to become ambassadors and educators through this training; promote and oversee the implementation of anti-drug strategies in your areas.”
She further called on government leaders to remain accountable, act with integrity, and refrain from participating in or turning a blind eye to illegal drug activities in their jurisdictions.
She emphasized that the government will not hesitate to take action against anyone found engaging in such acts.
For his part, Mr. Shaban Miraji, an Education Officer from the DCEA Northern Zone, noted that the primary causes of drug abuse include poor parenting, lack of proper education on the dangers of drugs, and difficult economic conditions.
Closing the training, Same District Executive Director Ms. Upendo Wela emphasized that everyone who attended the training must take responsibility in the fight against the cultivation of khat and cannabis. She called for collaborative efforts to completely eradicate these practices in Same District.
According to the Drug Control and Enforcement Act of 2015, any individual found cultivating cannabis or khat, trafficking, transporting, or possessing less than 100 kilograms faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison. If the quantity exceeds 100 kilograms, the penalty is life imprisonment.
The training covered a variety of topics, with the central theme focused on drug abuse. Other topics included ethics for public servants, the fight against corruption, and promoting alternative agriculture as a strategy to improve both individual livelihoods and the wider community economy.
