The Sunday Mail
Emmanuel Kafe
SAMANTHA Marezva nearly choked to death after she was affected by an unlabelled insecticide that she purchased at a street corner in downtown Harare to fight off a cockroach infestation at her home.
She had her neighbours to thank after they administered fresh milk to detox her from the poison she had inhaled.
“It was a pinkish chemical which the vendors said was safe for humans but could kill mosquitoes and cockroaches. I bought it for US$1.
“Minutes after I applied the chemical at every corner in the house, I started choking,” she recounted to The Sunday Mail.
“The next thing I remember is coughing uncontrollably and being helped by neighbours,” recounted the 28-year-old mother of one.
Samantha is among the thousands of Zimbabweans who have resorted to using homemade insecticides sold at many of Harare’s street corners.
Health experts warn that homemade insecticides could be a ticking time bomb that could result in a major public health problem if their use continues unchecked.
The vendors are a common presence in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD) and the insecticides, some of which are not labelled, are mostly sold during the evening rush hour.
In the CBD, it is common to witness the vendors promoting their products aggressively through loud hailers; promising customers instant results.
They claim that their products are more effective and affordable than well-established brands.
A survey by The Sunday Mail showed that most of these homemade insecticides have no registration numbers and their production details are unknown.
Physician Dr Crispen Chanda said “most homemade insecticides are derivatives of pyrethroid and pyrethrin chemicals” and other strong chemical components.
“These chemicals when inappropriately mixed, particularly in high concentration, are capable of damaging vital organs of the body, including the brain and the respiratory system,” he said.
But users of these potentially dangerous and hazardous insecticides claim that they are effective and affordable.
A trader, Alice Mapuranga, said she has been using these insecticides for over five years to kill mosquitoes, cockroaches and other insects in her house.
She said she was impressed by the results that she decided to join the trade, as she now sells these same pesticides.
“I would normally use them to kill mosquitoes, rats and cockroaches in my house. I live in a waterlogged area and so, mosquitoes are always a problem there,” she said.
“Before I use the insecticides, I mix them with Sniper (another popular insecticide).
“There are, however, some very strong ones that can kill a rat, even without adding Sniper to them.
“The problem with those ones from my experience is that during the spraying, they will almost want to choke you, again if you apply them in the morning and go out, by the time you return home in the evening, the odour is still there, ‘’ she said.
She continued:
“I am not aware of any health risk associated with the use of these insecticides. The only challenge I have using them is that during spraying, they affect your eyes.”
Alice said a friend taught her how to manufacture the insecticides in three days.
For US$1, one can purchase a small plastic container that can last a few days.
Bigger containers with insecticide that can last for weeks are sold for between US$3 and US$5.
Health implications
Experts say inhalation, absorption through the skin, ingestion and eye contact are the various ways a person may be exposed to the risk associated with these insecticides.
Dr David Chimbirimi, a public health specialist, said the home-made insecticides are derivatives of dangerous chemicals and harmful to health.
“These chemical components are mixed in certain proportions to be used either at home or in the field, if not carefully managed, they become unhealthy to humans because the way the body is made up is similar to that of other organisms as well.
“That is why when you use such chemicals, you will start having irritation immediately. And that shows the concentration is too much for the body,” he explained.
The insecticides, he added, can also affect the central nervous system and cause brain damage.
“Again, it can cause cancer of the skin. So, these chemicals are really dangerous. When these chemicals get into the system they can cause kidney infections.
It is important that responsible authorities regulate the way these chemicals are used, otherwise, we will kill ourselves unawares.”
He said pregnant women and children are at high risk.
Regulation
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) said they carry out regular monitoring and their latest blitz in Bulawayo last month saw 45 tickets being issued to peddlers of the dangerous chemicals.
EMA’s education and publicity manager, Ms Amkela Sidange, said:
“The agency regulates transportation, stock and sale of hazardous substances meaning this should only be done under a license from EMA.
“The public should buy insecticides from registered suppliers for their own safety and that of the environment especially now as we go into the farming season.”
According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 12,6 million people die annually as a result of living in an unhealthy environment.
Chemical exposure has also contributed to more than 100 diseases.
