Barely a fortnight after the legalization of cannabis production for medicinal and scientific resolutions, government has reported that over 150 applications have been received from people seeking to invest into the ‘lucrative business’ amid indications that the policy will be extended to include farming of the substance as a cash crop to boost the national fiscus.
By Costa Nkomo
Under the Statutory Instrument 62 of 2018 of ‘Dangerous Drugs, Production of Cannabis for Medicinal and Scientific Use Regulations’, government legalised the production of cannabis commonly referred to as mbanje in Zimbabwe but concern has been raised that the public seem to have misunderstood the new policy.
Speaking on the side-lines of the Africa Investment Hub launch in the capital today, deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Terrence Mukupe said there is need to clear the public misconceptions on the policy.
“People who submitted the applications have surpassed 150 and more applications are still coming in on a day to day basis but there is a misconception in the public that you are going to be allowed to grow mbanje in your back yard, it’s never going to work like that,” said Mukupe.
“It’s a controlled substance so it is going to be grown in a highly controlled environment, and it will be carried out in government controlled farms away from people where security from both fire disasters and human theft is guaranteed,” added Mukupe.
According to gazetted statutory instrument on cannabis production, proof of citizenship or proof of being ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe or proof of an exemption by the Minister is required though there is lack of clarity on how government will put in place measures to guide against abuse of licences.
Meanwhile, Farmers Union of Zimbabwe have expressed readiness to adopt marijuana production on a large scale showing optimism profits in the near future.
