Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
H-Metro Editor
SOME of the chemicals being used by backyard firms, to produce alcoholic drinks which are not licenced by authorities, are so powerful they are destroying the equipment used on the production line within THREE weeks.
The equipment includes plates, pots and pans and iron rods which are used in the production lines at these backyard companies.
It has also emerged that many of these firms are under the ownership of a cartel, which is dominated by foreign businessmen, who have created their shadowy empire.
“What is happening in this illegal industry is something that is beyond your imagination,” a whistleblower told H-Metro.
“My brother, I want you to just imagine this – the plates, the big pots and the pans that are used in the production line are destroyed by the powerful chemicals within about three weeks.
“These pots, plates and pans can’t stand the corrosive power of these chemicals and have to be replaced after let’s say three weeks and the replacements will also not last long.
“The question is that if these chemicals are so powerful to destroy this equipment in such fashion, what are the drinks doing to the health of the people who are taking such drinks?
“It’s a horror show out there and the people involved do not care at all because all their focus is on profits and what happens to the health of the consumers of their products doesn’t matter to them.”
Many of the alcoholic drinks produced in these backyard factories have high alcohol content and the whistleblower said they are also very addictive.
“It’s something you can call the Wild West and anything goes down there as long as you get the product to the market, which in this sense are tuckshops in the high density areas and many other runners.
“You guys know about things like tumbwa but there is a darker side that you are not talking about and there are worse products out there that you probably don’t know.
“These guys are ruthless and you can say they are heartless because what matters to them are the profits.”
In recent days, the police have launched a crackdown on many backyard companies, the majority of whom are concentrated in the Waterfalls area.
On Monday, a director of Mauya Ginger Drinks sensationally revealed that she duped members of the public with false claims on their labels that their drinks could, among other things, boost the immune system.
It’s a startling confession.
Cecilia Mutete broke into tears yesterday as police destroyed the company’s products in Waterfalls.
Mutete could not watch as her drinks, worth more than US$30 000, were destroyed by the police following a court order.
The company was fined US$600 for labeling their drinks with false claims that they help joints, acid digestion, boost immune systems, help the liver and balance internal Ph.
“I regret giving false claims about our drinks,” said Cecilia.
“The drinks do not have the power to boost the immune system as labelled, it was a marketing gimmick.
“It has cost me my reputation, my money and time.
“I wish I could be schooled in everything about the documents required so that I do not fall into the same problem again,” she said.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the case urging business people to consider following government regulations before operating.
On the same day, the police raided a beverages manufacturing company, “Pachedu Drinks,” in Waterfalls.
The company is owned by Perfect Naimani, a foreign national, and has been operating without a licence since last year.
“Police have noted with concern the flooding of some drinks on the markets with medicinal claims,” said Comm Nyathi.
“The medicinal claims have been attracting a number of clients thereby misleading their customers.”
Naimani said:
“I was operating without a licence, some of the medicinal claims were also false since I was starting my business.”
Mathew Masinge