Unregulated fermented drinks flood Zimbabwe

Harare authorities have raised alarm over the rising sale of unregulated fermented beverages in urban centres and informal markets, warning that these cheap drinks pose serious health risks. Sold on street corners, commuter omnibus ranks, and in small retail outlets, the beverages are often produced under unsanitary conditions with unclear alcohol content and misleading labelling.

Recent bans by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) targeted products such as Hubaba and Kambucha, which falsely claimed certification or unverified medicinal benefits. MCAZ spokespersons highlighted that such practices mislead consumers and expose them to unsafe products.

In a joint raid last week, police, immigration officials, City of Harare health inspectors, and MCAZ officers targeted a Rugare-based factory operating under the company name Tembeya Africa. The factory produces a fermented ginger drink using uncovered pots over open fires, with borehole water that is not treated for beverage production. Although the drink reportedly contains about 5 percent alcohol, the label does not disclose this, raising concerns over potential higher alcohol levels.

Investigators also found several regulatory violations, including the factory operating from a site not listed on official documentation, a land lease held under the National Railways of Zimbabwe's servitude rather than the company's name, a health department licence issued for a different site, and the absence of an on-site laboratory for testing beverages prior to sale.

One of the company directors, Catherine Mukantabana, said the business was in the process of regularising its operations and expressed willingness to cooperate with authorities. She also noted that Tembeya Africa operates in Rwanda, South Africa, and Zambia.

Experts warn that the unregulated beverage market is a growing public health concern. Mr Itai Rusike, executive director of the Community Working Group on Health, said the addiction and accompanying damage to the liver and other internal organs is worrying and demands urgent action. Authorities must enforce regulations to protect consumers.

The clampdown aligns with regional and global concerns over unregulated alcohol, which the World Health Organization defines as "alcohol that is not taxed and is outside the usual system of governmental control." Globally, alcohol-related harm remains a major public health challenge, with deaths occurring every ten seconds from alcohol-related causes.

Authorities have pledged to intensify surveillance and enforcement to curb the proliferation of unsafe fermented beverages, stressing that public safety cannot be compromised in the name of entrepreneurship.