The Sunday Mail
Harmony Agere Extra Reporter —
ZIMBABWE has in recent years been faced with the rising abuse of alcohol, particularly illicit spirits imported from Mozambique.
Cheap brews such as Tambirane, Zed, Blue Diamond and Msombodiya are some of the cheap brands that have taken the local market by storm, with some selling for as little as 50c per 500 ml.
It is reported that a 500ml bottle of some of the brews can be diluted to serve up to ten people. This has made the brews very popular, especially in high density suburbs and among young people.
However, in most instances these brews have been found to be hazardous to health, with reports of people dying after excess consumption. Experts say the use of illicit brews can also lead to behavioural disorders and criminal activities.
As such, authorities have put in place measures to monitor the country’s boarder posts to eliminate the entry of illegal brews into the country.
Unfortunately, some illegal distillers and breweries have sprouted in the country’s industrial sites, thereby making access to the illicit brews even easier.
Dodgy spirits such as Mbarure and Tsangamidzi are now being distilled and distributed locally. Most of the illegal distilling plants are ignoring safety measures.
Recently, Harare City Council fire-fighters were burnt severely while trying to put out a fire that had started at a storage facility containing 30 000 litres of ethanol that was supposed to be used in distilling spirits.
Council later announced that the plant was being operated illegally and warned that there could be more of such facilities throughout the country.
Harare City Council spokesperson, Mr Michael Chideme said the city fathers were doing everything to root out the perpetrators but appealed to the public to report such illegal activities.
“There is a problem and we need the assistance of the public, they should tip us off when these activities are taking place,” he said then.
“Some of their operations look legit and therefore they can be hard to fish out.
“Such people need to be prosecuted, their activities are putting a lot of lives in danger,” he said.
A source privy to the operations in the illegal business told The Sunday Mail Extra that the kingpins have experience gained from legitimate brewing businesses.
“These are people who were once or maybe are still employed by brewing companies,” said the source.
“With the experience gained over the years, some have gone to start their own things but establishing a distilling plant is no easy task because it requires huge investments. They end up cutting corners.
“For example, some import alcohol in bulk and their storage facilities do not take all the precautionary measures to prevent hazards such as fires.
Experts say the increase in drug abuse could be a result of economic hardships and various social pressures.
“These dealers are thriving because there is a ready market and its quiet easy for them to push their volumes into that gap,” said clinical psychologist Barat Mussa.
“But you must first understand what is creating this gap. As a country we are going through trying times, both economically and socially and this can pressure individuals into drugs and alcoholism.
“Now, because some do not earn much, they resort to these cheap beers to satisfy their alcohol cravings but the results are terrible because it creates a very mentally unstable society.”
He said the abuse of alcohol can also lead to the abuse of drugs. At least 1 300 of the 7 000 admissions recorded this year at the Harare Central Hospital’s Psychiatric unit were related to drug abuse.
The institution’s head of psychiatric division Dr Dixon Chibanda last week told The Sunday Mail that most of the drug abuse cases were from Mbare, Highfield and Kambuzuma.
“Drug abuse is pervasive in Harare and it cuts across racial, social and cultural demographics,” he said.
“For instance, in the white community and the more affluent blacks, you are likely to come across cocaine, pethidine and prescription drugs like Ritalin, a drug that is used for the treatment of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder).”
Dr Chibanda said drug abuse was mostly prevalent among male youths aged between 17 and 28 years and he attributed high intake of drugs to depression, peer pressure, anxiety and unemployment.
“The type of drugs commonly detected in patients are cannabis (mbanje), codeine related drugs in the form of cough mixtures such as bronclear as well as prescription drugs like pethidine, diazepam and stopayne. Young people are vulnerable and if there is no anti-drug education or campaign awareness, drug abuse tends to be higher,” he said.
“We’ve had cases of people who take drugs because they are facing social problems, some will be homeless and lack family care and support. Such cases are referred to a long term institution that deals with problems of that nature.”
Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba is on record lamenting the rise in murder cases, many of which she says are influenced by alcohol abuse.
She said in some instances, people are being murdered over petty things such as denying a friend a sip of alcohol. It is believed that some of the brews can make individuals extremely aggressive and violent.
