Online Reporter
Lloyd Makonya
Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has gazetted Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 62 of 2025, marking a major milestone in the country’s escalating war against drug and substance abuse.
The new regulation, issued under the Harmful Liquids Act was announced by Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe, outlawing the production, sale, and consumption of kambwa a deadly backyard brew also known as tumbwa or musombodhiya, and adds it to the growing list of banned harmful alcoholic substances.
This makes kambwa the 10th such brew to be banned in Zimbabwe, joining other highly toxic concoctions such as skokiaan, barberton, qilika, isityimiyana, hopana, qediviki, uhali, kachasu, and nipa.
The latest amendment to the schedule of banned liquids now reads: “10. Any unregulated, unauthorised or illegally produced alcoholic beverages containing ethanol, colloquially referred to by such names as kambwa, musombodhiya or by any other name whatsoever.”
This broad definition is important as it is designed to close loopholes often exploited by rogue producers who rebrand or rename their lethal products to evade legal consequences.
Illicit brews such as kambwa are widely sold in informal markets, often at cheap prices, and are made with dangerous chemical ingredients, contaminated water, and no quality control whatsoever.
The result has been a surge in alcohol-related hospitalisations, poisoning, organ failure, and in some tragic cases, death. Medical experts and law enforcement have raised alarm bells over the rising number of young people falling prey to such substances.
Zimbabwe’s largest beverage manufacturer, Delta Corporation, has come out strongly in support of Government’s bold step.
In a statement posted online, the company’s general manager for corporate affairs, Ms Patricia Murambinda, described the outlawing of kambwa as a “necessary intervention” to protect both public health and the integrity of reputable products on the market.
“These rogue brews are, not just a health crisis, but an attack on trusted brands and fair business,” said Ms Murambinda.
She pointed out that counterfeit alcohol sold without regulation, lab testing, or proper packaging has been steadily undermining consumer confidence and destabilising the market.
While the financial impact is hard to measure, she emphasised that the damage to brand trust and fair competition is real and growing.
Ms Murambinda revealed that Delta is investing in smart packaging technologies, and expanding public awareness campaigns to help consumers distinguish authentic products from fakes.
But she warned that no one entity can tackle the issue alone.
“We need tighter laws, more frequent raids, and serious consequences for offenders.
“Faster trademark registration and better resourcing of enforcement agencies are also critical in this fight,” she said.
The banning of kambwa is part of a broader national strategy to tackle Zimbabwe’s deepening drug and substance abuse crisis.
Government ministries, law enforcement, and civil society have been mobilised in a multi-sectoral response targeting the full supply chain, from production and trafficking to consumption and rehabilitation.
Authorities are also intensifying border surveillance to intercept smuggled fake labels, packaging, and chemicals used in the manufacture of illegal brews.
Education campaigns targeting schools and communities are being rolled out across the country.
As enforcement intensifies, Delta Corporation has called on other private sector players to join in the national fight against toxic alcohol and narcotics.
“The battle against kambwa and similar harmful liquids must be fought on all fronts. It is about protecting lives, restoring consumer trust, and preserving the integrity of Zimbabwean enterprises,” said Ms Murambinda.
