Capitalism Is the Source of Drug Abuse in Tanzania

News:

On 4th March 2026, Tanzania’s Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) issued the public notice in Dar es Salaam that it has seized 9.93 tonnes of various illicit drugs, 1,795 bottles of medicinal drugs with narcotic properties, and destroyed 87.5 acres of cannabis farms during the months of January and February operations only.

Comment:

Drug abuse exists in many parts of Tanzania, especially in urban areas. According to Harm Reduction International, about 30,000 people inject drugs in Tanzania, among them 14% are living with HIV and 23.1% have Hepatitis C. The country is also a transit route for international drug trafficking, especially through ports and airports.

Despite government efforts to confront drug abuse and trafficking such as creation of institutions for fighting drugs like Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA), increasing rehabilitation centers from 9 in 2020 up to 18 in 2025, initiating Methadone treatment programs, border control, drug seizures, public awareness campaigns, etc. Yet it has failed to combat the problem. For example, in 2020 the government seized 25 tonnes of illegal drugs while in 2024 more than 2,327 tonnes were seized.

Tanzania, just like all other countries in the world would never succeed in fighting drug abuse and drug trafficking because since it has embraced capitalism ideology. An ideology that views things in angle of personal benefits, and in most cases applying Machiavellian principle of the ‘ends justify the means’, that is, it doesn’t matter to harm others provided one gains wealth.

From this devilish capitalist thought, drug dealers all over the world generates huge amount of money through drug regardless of harming millions and victimize worldwide.

One the other hand, capitalist economic system causes a lot of problems to the extent that people indulging in drug as false comfort. Not to mention that some abusers have been deluded by the capitalism idea of illusion satisfaction.

Islam has prohibited alcoholism in all of its form, being it alcohol or drug abuse. Islam has provided a moral guidance to the community that mould individual and community how can one satisfy his needs and overcome stress and poverty without falling on the traps of alcoholism and drug abuse.

In conclusion, the Islamic social system and Islamic economic system provide a complete guidance on how drug abuse can be handled by building an Islamic personality and imposing harsh punishment under its Khilafah (Caliphate) State.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Said Bitomwa
Member of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Tanzania