A 23-day walk from Beitbridge to Harare has become one of Zimbabwe’s most powerful public statements in the fight against drug and substance abuse, as hundreds of participants continue to push forward under the banner “Together We Rise, United We Heal.”
What began as a symbolic walkathon has evolved into a national mobilisation effort, bringing together NetOne, Zimbabwe’s state-owned telecommunications giant, and Heal Us Zimbabwe, a grassroots recovery organisation founded by a former drug addict.
Running from 27 June to 19 July 2026, the march covers more than 500 kilometres and is fast becoming a moving platform of awareness, counselling, and community engagement at every stop along the route.
Behind the initiative lies a sobering reality: drug use among young Zimbabweans rose sharply from 43 percent in 2017 to over 57 percent by 2019, a surge that has devastated families, disrupted education, and strained communities. The crisis has since been declared a national emergency.
For NetOne Group CEO, Engineer Raphael Mushanawani, the response must be just as large as the problem.
“We are running towards a future where our youth reject substance abuse,” he said ahead of the Beitbridge launch. “We cannot do this alone. Heal Us Zimbabwe brings the lived experience, the frontline truth, and the human face of recovery.”
The partnership has turned the walkathon into more than a physical journey. Each day is accompanied by counselling sessions, testimonies from recovering addicts, and community outreach programmes in schools and youth centres along the route.
Heal Us Zimbabwe founder, Columbus Tapiwa Mushore, knows the struggle personally. A former addict who rebuilt his life, he now leads efforts to reach young people trapped in addiction cycles.
“This is not theory for us,” Mushore has often said in engagements along the route. “We have lived it. We know what works on the ground.”
NetOne says its role is to amplify those voices through its nationwide network, using mobile connectivity, data platforms, and digital tools to extend counselling and awareness beyond physical gatherings.
Engineer Mushanawani emphasised that connectivity now carries a deeper meaning.
“Technology can distract, but it can also heal and educate. We are determined to make it part of the solution.”
Now on Day 4, the walkathon has already drawn widespread community support, with residents along the route offering water, encouragement, and solidarity to walkers, turning the journey into a shared national experience.
As the march continues toward Harare, its message remains simple but urgent: “Your future is in your hands. Say No to Drugs. Say Yes to Life.”
