Zimbabwe: prison gets government approval to grow cannabis

One year later the legalization of cannabis for medical purposes and research, the Zimbabwean government has just given the green light to a project to grow cannabis in a prison. The prison in question is Buffalo Range, near Chiredzi, in Masvingo Province in the southeastern part of the country, a few hundred kilometers from the Robert Mugabe International Airport, the only airport in the country authorized to receive and distribute cannabis.

Confusing information

The prison was reportedly chosen because its security measures effectively meet the standards required by Zimbabwean law regarding cannabis cultivation. The cultivation is said to cover about ten hectares, with plans already in place for future expansion.

The project is funded by NSK Holdings & International Investors and two partnerships: one with the Ministry of Health, and the other with a Portuguese company, Symtomax, who will provide assistance with the technical aspects related to cultivation.

According to some sources, the production license was granted to the company Ivory Medical (we couldn't find it online) but, According to other sources, The Zimbabwean Correctional and Prison Services (SCPZ) reportedly applied for a production license themselves.

«We have no plans to produce goods for prisoners.» Ndanga explains, the SCPZ officer for Masvingo Province, whose remarks were reported by the Journal du Cameroun. «Our goal is to reduce our dependence on the national tax authority by generating our own source of revenue as an organization.».

According to the Ministry of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the SCPZ is a paramilitary organization. However, it is not a public agency. As a private entity, it is involved in numerous projects agricultural or industrial under the pretext of seeking some form of financial independence. In reality, as suggested by this memo from the Australian government, It is an organization that maintains close and controversial ties with the government.

In total, sales of cannabis products in Zimbabwe are estimated to reach $7 billion by 2023. The government recently granted the first production licenses.