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In Zimbabwe, a cough syrup called BronCleer is quietly eating away at the country's future as a sugar-coated poison. In the narrow streets of the capital, Harare, at nightfall, the figures of young people begin to gather under the dim streetlights. They hold inconspicuous plastic bottles, but they contain an addictive liquid – a popular medicine that is illegally sold. It's not just a drug, it's a ticket to escapism.
Although the government has announced a ban on the sale of BronCleer, the black market trade in this cough syrup has become even more rampant. The lack of effective social intervention and rehabilitation facilities makes this battle particularly difficult. Against the backdrop of the country's already tumultive economy, this crisis of drug abuse is escalating and becoming a new social bomb.
Zimbabwe's independence and early political changes
On 18 April 1980, Zimbabwe celebrated its independence with a grand independence celebration, a day that marked the country's transition from the era of Southern Rhodesia to the Republic of Zimbabwe, ending 90 years of British colonial rule. Thousands of people gathered in the capital, Harare, to witness this historic moment. In the crowd, flowers and flags fluttered, the melody of the new national anthem echoed in the air, and people's faces were filled with the joy of liberation and anticipation for the future.
Mugabe, Zimbabwe's liberation fighter and political leader, was elected the country's first prime minister shortly after independence. His inauguration ceremony was attended by international dignitaries and tens of thousands of Zimbabweans. In his speech, he pledged to rebuild the country to provide a better future for all people.
In 1987, through a constitutional amendment, Zimbabwe abolished the prime ministership and replaced it with a presidential system. Mugabe smoothly transitioned from prime minister to president, a change in the position that further strengthened his grip on the country's political life. At the presidential inauguration, Mugabe pledged loyalty to the country and its people, demonstrating his determination to lead the country to prosperity and stability.
Under Mugabe's leadership, Zimbabwe embarked on a series of land reform programs aimed at moving away from colonial legacies. The goal of these reforms was to redistribute land to landless black peasants, in an attempt to correct the injustice of land distribution during the colonial period. The Government has deployed various institutions and commissions to manage the process, which involves large-scale land acquisition and distribution activities.
Economic Policy and the Unemployment Crisis
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Zimbabwe's economic situation deteriorated dramatically, in particular as a result of a series of misguided economic decisions and mismanagement. The government's agrarian reform policy, which was originally intended to redress land inequality during the colonial era, was implemented in a manner that led to the confiscation of large numbers of productive farms and the redistribution of local populations with little agricultural experience. This policy has led to a significant decline in agricultural productivity, which in turn has affected the country's food security and export earnings.
With the collapse of the agricultural industry, related industries that once relied on it, such as meat processing and agricultural machinery manufacturing, have also suffered. In addition, due to the instability of the government's policies and the uncertainty of the rights and interests of foreign investors, foreign capital has begun to withdraw from Zimbabwe. Multinational companies have closed their operations in Zimbabwe, and the decline in foreign direct investment has further exacerbated the economic contraction.
During this period, domestic monetary policy also showed great confusion. In response to the fiscal deficit, the government began to print money without restrictions, and as a result, inflation soared, eventually entering the phase of hyperinflation. The rapid rise in prices has led to a sharp increase in the cost of living for ordinary people, while wages have not been adjusted accordingly, resulting in a significant decline in real purchasing power.
Unemployment has become particularly acute under the dual pressures of a sharp recession and the rising cost of living. Many factories and businesses have been forced to close or downsize due to operational difficulties, resulting in a large number of workers losing their jobs. By the early 2000s, Zimbabwe's unemployment rate was estimated to be as high as 95 per cent. The spread of unemployment has plunged many families into poverty, and social stability and order have been greatly affected as a result.
As a result, social problems are exacerbated, and more and more people are unable to find solutions to their livelihoods through formal channels. Street begging and small-scale illegal trade began to flourish, and the law and order situation began to deteriorate. Although the government has tried to alleviate poverty through social assistance programs, due to limited financial resources, these assistance programs are often ineffective and cannot meet the needs of the poor at large.
As a result of this series of economic and social crises, Zimbabwe's domestic political situation has also become increasingly tense. The government has faced pressure and criticism from many sources, including political opponents at home and abroad, as well as the international community. However, the government's response has often been to tighten controls and suppress dissent, further fueling political tensions in the country.
Youth unemployment and drug dependence
In Zimbabwe, young people are the main victims of the social crisis, as unemployment has risen sharply and the economic situation continues to deteriorate. Due to the lack of effective employment opportunities and financial support, many young people are looking for ways to cope with the stress and uncertainty of life. Among them, BronCleer, a cough syrup, is gradually becoming a means of escapism for young people due to the presence of codeine (an opioid) and alcohol.
BronCleer was originally intended as a medicine to treat cough and cold symptoms, but due to the addictive codeine contained in its ingredient and its low price, it was quickly used for other purposes by unemployed young people. On the streets, this cough syrup is sold illegally and at a much lower price than any other form of recreational medicine. A regular 100ml bottle of BronCleer can cost only a few dollars in the market, making it easy for even those with the most limited financial means to buy it.
Over time, the use of BronCleer has become a social phenomenon. It has been reported that about 50% of young Zimbabweans take this cough syrup regularly or on a long-term basis. This trend is particularly pronounced in urban slums and rural areas. In some areas, young people gather in rudimentary settlements or abandoned buildings to share the cheap drug. Such gatherings are often accompanied by music and impromptu balls, which, although ostensibly social, are in fact a way of escaping a life of misery.
Health risks and societal effects of cough syrup
While cough syrup, especially BronCleer, offers many young Zimbabweans a way to escape stress and reality, the health and social problems associated with their long-term use are becoming increasingly apparent. Codeine contained in cough syrup is highly addictive, making it difficult for users to extricate themselves once they start using it.
Over time, the overdose of this drug began to manifest itself as a serious threat to health. Codeine, while effective in relieving pain and causing a transient feeling of mental well-being, also inhibits the normal functioning of the respiratory system, and long-term overdose can lead to respiratory depression, a potentially fatal condition. Not only that, but the cardiovascular system is also damaged by the long-term effects of drugs, manifesting as problems such as irregular heartbeats and abnormal blood pressure, which are often not treated in a timely manner in settings with limited medical resources.
In addition, because of the addictive nature of the drug, many young users' lives gradually revolve around obtaining and using cough syrup. This dependency has led to increased social instability, including an increased risk for youth to be involved in crime. In communities with extremely high rates of poverty and unemployment, some young people may turn to illegal means such as theft and robbery in order to raise money for cough syrup. This situation not only increases the crime rate in the community, but also increases the tension between the police and the residents of the community.
At home, drug dependence has also had a serious impact. Many young people who are depressed by their dependence on BronCleer have their family relationships strained and broken down. Quarrels and conflicts between family members are frequent, especially when other family members try to interfere with their drug use. As a result, the family's financial resources are over-depleted to buy cough syrup instead of basic needs, further exacerbating the financial pressure on the family.
Government response to societal challenges
Faced with the abuse of cough syrups, especially BronCleer, the Zimbabwean government eventually banned the sale of these products in an attempt to cut off the supply chain and reduce the dependence of young people on the drug. Government officials and legal agencies began inspecting pharmacies and markets, cracking down businesses that illegally sold cough syrup, and imposing fines or other legal sanctions on those who violated the rules.
However, despite these positive efforts, the actual effect of the ban has not been significant. Driven by weak border management and high demand, a large number of BronCleers have entered the market through illegal channels. Smugglers take advantage of the porous nature of the border to smuggle these drugs into from neighbouring countries, often through trails and informal trade routes. In many cities and villages in Zimbabwe, despite legal prohibitions, illegal trading is rampant, and black market trading is frequent, making it almost an open secret in some slums.
To complicate matters further, government resources for social interventions and drug treatment are grossly inadequate. Zimbabwe is grossly underfunded in the face of high unemployment and economic hardship, and public health and social services are severely underfunded. There is a lack of adequate treatment centres nationwide to provide essential support and rehabilitation services for people who are drug dependent. Even in the capital, Harare, there are few facilities that can provide specialized treatment for drug dependence, and these facilities are often overwhelmed by a shortage of funds and expertise.
In addition, the public health system's advocacy and education efforts have not been effective. Educational programs on substance abuse in schools and communities are not broad enough to reach the majority of at-risk populations. The lack of effective prevention strategies and educational tools has left young people with a lack of awareness of the dangers of BronCleer and continues to see it as an easy way to decompress and escape from reality.
The Government's inadequacy in addressing drug abuse reflects broader issues of social welfare and public health management. The problem is exacerbated by the twin pressures of economic hardship and policy failures, as well as the weakness of the social fabric and the lack of public services. Over time, this has become more than just a health problem, but a major obstacle to social stability and development.
Reference: Documentary: Zimbabwe, the country that fell into "cough syrup".