Zim GBC News | Harare Correspondent
HARARE – A shocking investigation has uncovered widespread human rights abuses, illegal detentions, and corruption at several prominent drug rehabilitation centres in Zimbabwe, including the Angel of Hope Foundation, patronised by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, and the controversial Matrix Rehabilitation Centre.
The investigation, supported by the non-profit Information for Development Trust, reveals that victims, some as young as nine, are being arbitrarily rounded up and subjected to military-style torture, forced therapies, and unscientific detoxification methods.
Illegal Detentions and Deceptive Practices
According to the findings, individuals are often lured to these centres under false pretenses, such as being offered a job or collecting goods, only to be locked up without their consent. The Matrix centre in Ruwa, which operates from an unmarked blue building, uses “bouncers” deployed from its Harare CBD office to apprehend suspected drug users.
In a video testimony, one Matrix detainee revealed the deception:
“I was told I was going to collect goods sent from abroad. When we arrived, I was then told… you are under detention. That’s when I realised I had been sold a dummy.”
Although Angel of Hope does not use bouncers, it relies on guardians to persuade individuals to come to its Mbare facility, where names are placed on a long waiting list. However, corruption has tainted the process.
“The rehab centre is supposed to be free, but people working there now take bribes to sideline those registered by poor guardians,” said Mary Takaendesa from Mbare, who alleged her child was released the same day to make way for a paying case.
‘Military-Style Torture’ and Unapproved Therapies
Inside the centres, detainees face brutal conditions. Videos from Matrix show inmates being drenched in cold water, subjected to rigorous military drills, forced “air seating,” and corporal punishment with a sjambok.
Matrix founder Tafadzwa Chidawa, who is currently on bail for operating an illegal quasi-military camp, defended the methods.
“It’s not a secret that we use intense physical activities as a process for detoxification,” he said.
Medical experts warn that such sudden, forced cessation of drugs, without proper medical supervision, can cause severe physical and psychological harm, including organ damage, dehydration, and increased risk of suicide.
Authorities Aware, Civil Society Outraged
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that the force is aware of “pseudo drug rehabilitation centres operating unlawfully” and is conducting investigations and awareness campaigns.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aspect Maunganidze, expressed concern, stating,
“The Ministry wishes to emphasise that rehabilitation services must meet established standards of care to ensure the safety and dignity of patients.”
However, lawyers and civil society groups insist the detentions are fundamentally illegal.
“It’s illegal. It amounts to abducting a person,” said Paida Saurombe of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
“The constitution guarantees the right not to be deprived of your liberty arbitrarily.”
Wilson Box, director of the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drugs Network (ZCLDN), condemned the profiteering from a national crisis. “Drug use is driven by a lot of factors… forcing someone to be detained without evidence… is unacceptable.” He indicated his organisation is preparing a legal challenge against the centres.
Both Angel of Hope Foundation and Matrix were contacted for comment.
A representative from Angel of Hope declined to respond, while Matrix maintained that all admissions are voluntary and based on signed consent forms—a claim contradicted by victim testimonies and the investigation’s findings.
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