The President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, called yesterday for a discussion without "taboos" on the impact and fight against drug trafficking in the countries of eastern and southern Africa, advocating reforms and regional cooperation.

According to Filipe Nyusi, who was speaking in Maputo at the third high-level meeting of the Eastern and Southern African Commission on Drugs (ESACD), bringing together leaders and experts from the region to discuss the reform of drug structures and policies, as well as promoting local capacities, preventing and combating drug trafficking "requires intersectoral and transversal coordination" on the part of the competent authorities "in the application of drug laws, as well as between them and society", but "mechanisms" are also needed for countries to communicate with each other.

"Don't be taboo. Don't be afraid to call a spade a spade. Because sometimes, when we delay, we create space for things to happen in an unwanted way. We can't lose sight of the fact that investing in preventing drug use is investing in the future of our young people and our nations," appealed the Mozambican leader.

Quoted by Savannah newspaperNyusi said that over the last few decades, the region of eastern and southern Africa has been plagued by illicit drug trafficking, including cannabis. In this context, "the effects of this phenomenon are already being felt in the socio-economic and security spheres, negatively affecting, among other things, the implementation of health, education and sustainable development policies in our states".

However, the Mozambican statesman also recognizes that crime can lead to terrorism, such as that which Mozambique has been experiencing in the north of the country, in the province of Cabo Delgado, for the last six years. "We see children who are led, instrumentalized, to have the courage to commit a crime that in the dimension of a child is not possible, who do it under the influence of drugs," he pointed out.

(Photo DR)