Online Reporter
B-Metro Reporter
B-METRO can exclusively name the two manufacturers of the infamous illicit brew “njengu” arrested operating an illegal brewing plant in Bulawayo’s city centre as Mduduzi Ngoma and Naomi P Sakhala.
Ngoma is from Barbourfields while Sakhala hails from Njube.
They were nabbed by police on Wednesday at a residential flat while allegedly operating a plant manufacturing the notorious brew.
When police pounced on the two suspected bootleggers, Ngoma was allegedly found busy packing the dangerous alcohol while Sakhala was fingered by officers at the scene as the cashier.
The dramatic bust has exposed what residents describe as a hidden factory of misery operating in the heart of the city.
Police swooped on a flat at the corner of Josiah Tongogara Street and Second Avenue and uncovered what appeared to be a fully-fledged illicit alcohol manufacturing operation hidden inside a residential apartment.
Instead of finding tenants watching television or preparing supper, officers reportedly stumbled upon drums, bottles, packaging materials and equipment allegedly being used to churn out the controversial brew.
The raid led to the seizure of hundreds of bottles of suspected counterfeit liquor, drums containing ethanol, brewing equipment, branded stickers and empty bottles ready for packaging.
In a twist that has left many drinkers worried, some of the bottles allegedly carried labels bearing the name of the recently launched Highlanders African Gin. The discovery has raised fears that counterfeit versions of legitimate alcohol brands may already be circulating on the market.
Bulawayo has for years battled the growing scourge of cheap illicit alcohol commonly known as “njengu”. The brew is popular among some drinkers because of its low price, but residents say the social cost has been devastating.
Many young people have reportedly fallen into alcohol abuse, with some abandoning school, losing jobs and becoming trapped in destructive lifestyles fuelled by addiction.
Community leaders have repeatedly warned that illicit alcohol is contributing to crime, domestic violence and family breakdowns in many suburbs.
Health experts have also sounded the alarm over illegally manufactured alcohol, warning that dangerous substances can be mixed into the brew. In severe cases, consumption can lead to serious illness, blindness or even death.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the arrests and said the confiscated liquor would undergo scientific examination.
“The confiscated alcohol will be sent to a laboratory for scientific tests to determine the components used in the manufacturing of the illicit alcohol brew,” she said.
The two suspects are expected to appear in court while investigations continue.
Residents have welcomed the raid, saying it sends a strong message to those profiting from a trade many believe is poisoning communities one bottle at a time. For worried families across the city, the crackdown offers hope that fewer young lives will be lost to the lure of deadly “njengu”.
