ZAMBIA and Zimbabwe have stepped up collaboration against transnational organised crime following a benchmarking exercise between the drug enforcement agencies of the two countries. A high-level delegation from Zimbabwe’s National Drug Substance Abuse Control and Enforcement Agency (NDSACEA) concluded a benchmarking visit to Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) between October 26 and 30, 2026. The […]

ZAMBIA and Zimbabwe have stepped up collaboration against transnational organised crime following a benchmarking exercise between the drug enforcement agencies of the two countries.

A high-level delegation from Zimbabwe’s National Drug Substance Abuse Control and Enforcement Agency (NDSACEA) concluded a benchmarking visit to Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) between October 26 and 30, 2026.

The technical exchange centred on sharing best practices, enhancing organisational design and governance, and strengthening bilateral cooperation against drug trafficking and substance abuse.

In a statement, Sunday, Zimbabwean Head of Delegation and Director General of NDSACEA Dr Gatsha Mazithulela was quoted as saying that Zambia was a shining example and a role model in drug law enforcement in Africa.

“In a bold push to curb the rising tide of transnational drug trafficking and substance abuse across Southern Africa, a high-level delegation from Zimbabwe’s National Drug Substance Abuse Control and Enforcement Agency (NDSACEA) has concluded a landmark benchmarking exercise at the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) of Zambia, conducted between October 26 and 30, 2026. The technical exchange centred on exchanging best practices, streamlining and enhancing organisational design and governance, as well as strengthening bilateral cooperation. Shared threats, synchronised strategies: The borders shared by Zambia and Zimbabwe have increasingly been targeted by transnational criminal syndicates trafficking cannabis, prescription opioids (such as codeine) and synthetic drugs like methamphetamine. Recognising that unilateral enforcement has limits, the two agencies used the benchmarking visit to review frameworks and study institutional models,” the statement read.

“Speaking during the visit, the head of the Zimbabwean delegation and Director General, Dr Gatsha Mazithulela, articulated the core purpose of the benchmarking exercise. ‘Realizing that the Drug Enforcement Commission of Zambia is a shining example and a role model in drug law enforcement in Africa generally and in the Southern African Region in particular, we have come to see how things are done here, how we can plug operational gaps and build a formidable, seamless response to cartels operating within our national boundaries and across borders'”.

Meanwhile, Drug Enforcement Commission Director General Nason Banda was quoted as saying the visit highlighted the importance of international cooperation and regional integration in countering drug trafficking and financial crimes.

“In welcoming the delegation, the DEC Director General, Mr Nason Banda, expressed gratitude to Dr Mazithulela and the people of Zimbabwe for the visit. ‘We appreciate the cordial relationship shared between our two nations and for our joint efforts in combating transnational organized crime. Your visit highlights the importance of international cooperation and regional integration in countering drug trafficking and financial crimes’,” read the statement.