Unregulated traditional medicine floods streets

 

Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter

 

TRADITIONAL medicines have long been an integral part of the country’s cultural heritage, with people relying on them to cure various ailments.

 

Skilled traditional healers and respected elders would typically administer these medicines to patients.

 

However, the recent proliferation of traditional remedies on the streets has raised concerns about their safety, efficacy, and regulation.

 

Street vendors now hawk concoctions of traditional medicines, claiming they can cure a wide range of diseases.

 

A particular concern is the sale of these medicines in drinking spots, targeting patrons who often consume them with beer.

 

Some vendors even claim that the more sour or bitter the medicine tastes, the more effective it is.

 

While some traditional medicines have proven therapeutic value, the lack of regulation and quality control raises serious safety concerns.

 

Despite the risks, many people continue to turn to traditional medicines, driven by cultural beliefs and the failure of conventional medicines to cure their ailments.

 

Health experts warn that caution is essential when using traditional medicines, particularly those purchased from street vendors.

 

Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA) president, Mr George Kandiero advised consumers to be discerning and avoid buying herbs sold in open spaces.

 

He said most street herbal vendors are not registered with relevant authorities, and are solely driven by profit.

 

“Medicine is not food which can just be sold on the streets. A proper herbalist must establish a decent place where people can access or engage council and allocated proper market stalls. Once you expose medicines to certain conditions such as sunlight it can become harmful.

 

“We have encountered some individuals selling medicines very close to public toilets, and members of the public are exposed to contaminated products. Most of these hawkers are not registered by us or other recognised organisations.

 

They are in this game for money. It takes two to tango.

 

“People who are buying from the streets are gullible because if they develop side effects where will they go for a redress. Those are some of the dangers. It is very unethical in terms of the prescription of medicine, and it has very serious repercussions.

 

“If some want to deal in traditional medicines they are advised of the proper regulations on how and where to sale. It is unfortunate that people are now just after money. People must be discerning when it comes to what they consume. These vendors continue selling medicines on the streets because there is a market, but if people ignore them, they will disappear,” said Mr Kandiero.

 

Traditional leader and health expert, Headman Talkmore Mupambawahle said people’s ties to traditional medicines is cultural and historical, and sometimes economical, hence their continued use.

 

He emphasised that buying from streets is risk, and should not be encouraged.

 

“Traditional medicine are important due to their affordability and accessibility. They also encompass practices rooted in diverse cultural and historical contexts. While modern medicine has made strides in addressing specific ailments, traditional practices offers valuable complement.

 

“According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) around 40 percent of pharmaceutical products today draw from nature and traditional knowledge, including landmark drugs aspirin and artemisinin. Selling traditional herbs in streets can be dangerous due to potential quality control issue, adulteration with harmful substances and the possibility of incorrect dosages or mixing with other medicines. Street vendors selling them may also not be trained to accurately diagnose or provide appropriate advice potentially causing more harm to the patients. Regulating them will aim to ensure safety, quality and patient protection,” he said.

 

He, however, said the country should go beyond and embrace indigenous knowledge systems such as herbs and medicines, and build a strong pharmaceutical sector to spur health service provision.

 

“In Zimbabwe, it is illegal to sell herbal medicines on the streets. The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has implemented measures to regulate the sale of traditional medicines, requiring them to be distributed through licenced outlets manned by trained people.

 

“A balance should be struck to minimise over regulation because it can stifle innovation and limit access to traditional medicines. We need to promote indigenous knowledge systems by supporting research into traditional medicines and herbs,” he said.

 

The desire to enhance performance in bed turned fatal for four men from Chiadzwa recently after they succumbed to a suspected aloe vera concoction, popularly known as guchu.

 

Disaster struck after six men consumed the concoction that was meant to detox the body and boost their performance in bed.

 

Two of the men, Munyaradzi Mutande (25) and Jacob Matambo (27), were left battling for their lives at Mutambara Mission Hospital where they were admitted after the fatal experiment.

 

National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the incident, which shocked the diamond-rich area, and raised serious questions about the dangers of unregulated traditional medicines.

 

Commissioner Nyathi identified the victims as Joseph Myambo (45), Robert Muchawaya (28), Brighton Gwenzi Chibhoso (27), and Kudakwashe Marambire (44), who were pronounced dead on arrival at Chiadzwa Clinic.

 

The Manica Post crew gathered from one of the deceased’s friends, Mr Simbarashe Mutepfa, that the concoction was intended to prepare Myambo for an encounter with his second wife who was scheduled to visit him.

 

“Myambo told us that he wanted to cleanse his body and enhance his performance ahead of his second’s wife visit. He even telephoned her in our presence, telling her that he would be ready for her. That is when he prepared the concoction, which unfortunately led to the unintended fatal consequences,” said Mr Mutepfa.

 

Mr Mutepfa said he also narrowly escaped death together with Mr Obert Tavarwisa, adding that they were lucky to delay sipping the concoction as they were on cooking duty. He went on to describe how his colleagues’ pain worsened, leading to the multiple deaths. “They bitterly complained of weak joints. They struggled to talk, saying it felt like there was a force pressing down on their cheek bones,” he said.