DODOMA: THE Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) Commissioner General Aretas Lyimo has stated that the persistent problems of illegal drugs and corruption are cross-cutting issues that require joint efforts to combat them.
Commissioner General Lyimo made this statement yesterday in Dodoma when closing a training workshop on information strategy, education, and communication for programmes of the Prevention and Combating Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and those of fighting drugs. The training workshop was for communication officers.
“There is a close relationship between corrupt acts and the illegal drug business. By and large, drug dealers use corruption to achieve their criminal conduct.
“Hence, in order to ensure that we effectively fight corruption and drug dealing, we have seen the importance of a joint education programme on drugs and corruption,” Mr Lyimo stated.
He added that the DCEA and PCCB have agreed to use school corruption clubs to educate learners about corruption and illegal drugs.
This is meant to easily reach the targeted audience with minimal government resources, a situation that will bring more efficiency in building patriotism among the youth.
“We have seen officials from the DCEA and PCCB jointly offering public education to different social groups in the country, a situation that has increased awareness of the effects of corruption, the use, and business of illicit drugs.
He also called upon all stakeholders to recognise that awareness education is an important tool in fighting illegal drugs and corruption.
“Therefore, officials of the DCEA and PCCB, heads of schools and colleges, teachers, media, security organs, and citizens should all cooperate in combating drugs and corruption,” he stated.
On her part, Deputy Director-General of the PCCB, Ms Neema Makalyelye, said the results of the training would be seen in the performance of the participating educators from the two government institutions.
“In three days of training, participants learned about the magnitude of the drug problem, factors influencing drug use, how to identify drug users, addiction, and other issues,” she said.
The collaboration between the DCEA and PCCB is the implementation of the government’s directive through Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, who directed the two institutions to join forces in providing public education.
