Revenue raised from Zimbabwe’s expanding betting and gaming industry will now be directed towards tackling drug and substance abuse, marking a shift in how the Government intends to deploy gambling-related taxes.
Under the new approach, funds generated through taxes and levies on gaming activities will be specifically allocated to support rehabilitation facilities and anti-drug interventions nationwide. Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said the revenue would be ring-fenced to ensure it directly strengthens the national response to addiction.
The decision comes amid rising concern over the rising abuse of illegal and harmful substances among young people. Communities, schools and churches have increasingly raised alarm about the social impact of addiction, linking it to crime, domestic violence, mental health disorders and anti-social behaviour.
Professor Ncube said the earmarked funds would strengthen ongoing nationwide campaigns and expand access to treatment and counselling services, which are currently limited and often overstretched. Many families have struggled to secure adequate rehabilitation support for affected relatives.
The move forms part of a broader, multi-sectoral strategy led by the Government, involving law enforcement agencies, traditional leaders, churches and community organisations. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repeatedly described drug and substance abuse as a serious threat to Zimbabwe’s social and economic future, urging a whole-of-society approach to protect the country’s youth.
In recent years, the betting and gaming sector has expanded significantly, driven by online platforms and increased participation in sports betting. While tightening regulation of the sector, the Government is now using fiscal policy not only to raise revenue but also to address pressing social challenges facing communities nationwide.
An inter-ministerial committee has been established to coordinate Zimbabwe’s national response to drug and substance abuse
