THEY WERE BLACK, NOW THEY ARE WHITE… Bulawayo company fined for dodgy skin cream trade

The convict, Shingirai Nyongolo appeared at Rusape Magistrates’ Court on assault charges, and was fined US$250

Kimberley Chitambara

A BULAWAYO firm has been slapped with a US$400 fine after detectives busted it for peddling unregistered skin-lightening creams worth close to US$1 000.

Luzern Enterprises Private Limited was dragged to court where its saleslady, Simelweyinkosi Kanye of Bellevue suburb, stood in the dock on the company’s behalf.

Bulawayo magistrate Maxwell Ncube convicted the company of selling unregistered medicines following a sting by the CID Drugs and Narcotics unit.

The businessman was given the option of paying the fine or serving a two-month prison sentence — Fine

Prosecutor Mehluli Ndlovu told the court that on 3 September, detectives received a tip-off about the shady trade. Acting on the intel, they raided the company’s shop along Josiah Chinamano Street in the city centre.

Inside, they uncovered a stash of bleaching creams stacked for sale without proper papers. The haul included 176 × 500ml bottles of Power White Extra Whitening Cream, 328 × 135ml Carotene Cream, 126 × 330ml Carotene Cream and 780 × 3ml bottles of Tsunami.

When asked to produce a licence authorising the sale, the company failed to provide one. The products were seized on the spot, sealing the company’s fate in court.

The magistrate ordered Luzern Enterprises to pay the US$400 fine or risk further legal penalties.