News / Regional
Tototo 'brewery' busted
25 Nov 2013 at 12:44hrs | Views
POLICE in Siganda in Matabeleland North Province busted a homestead in Village 2, Mbembeswana area which was used as a "brewery" to manufacture the illicit and dangerous brew popularly known as kachasu or tototo.
The busting of the homestead came after police received a tip off that its owner Qedisani Ncube (28) was earning a living by manufacturing the illicit brew which he would sell to other villagers.
In Zimbabwe kachasu or tototo is prohibited and it is criminalised by the Harmful Liquids Act as it is dangerous to both humans and animals.
It is reported that when police arrived they were shocked when they found Ncube busy manufacturing the harmful liquid and as a result he was immediately arrested.
He was later arraigned before Nkayi resident magistrate Mr Ndumo Masuku facing charges of violating Section 3 (5) of the Harmful Liquids Act
Ncube pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment of which three months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good
The remaining nine months Ncube would be in jail coming up with a legitimate way of making a living rather than selling the prohibited brew.
In coming up with the sentence, the court took into consideration that the illicit brew was dangerous to both humans and animal lives and as such a deterrent sentence was called for to deter both the accused and other would-be offenders.
"I considered community service and found it to be inappropriate for a 28-year-old who chooses to live by crime instead of looking for legitimate ways of making a living," said Mr Masuku.
It is reported that on 30 October, police at Siganda Police Station received information to the effect that villagers in Mbembeswana were manufacturing and selling kachasu.
The following day two police officers proceeded to the area and upon arrival and after making enquiries they proceeded to Ncube's homestead where they found him preparing the prohibited brew.
He was immediately arrested and a 10-litre mixture of sugar, water, crushed millet which was used in the manufacturing process were recovered.
The busting of the homestead came after police received a tip off that its owner Qedisani Ncube (28) was earning a living by manufacturing the illicit brew which he would sell to other villagers.
In Zimbabwe kachasu or tototo is prohibited and it is criminalised by the Harmful Liquids Act as it is dangerous to both humans and animals.
It is reported that when police arrived they were shocked when they found Ncube busy manufacturing the harmful liquid and as a result he was immediately arrested.
He was later arraigned before Nkayi resident magistrate Mr Ndumo Masuku facing charges of violating Section 3 (5) of the Harmful Liquids Act
Ncube pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment of which three months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good
The remaining nine months Ncube would be in jail coming up with a legitimate way of making a living rather than selling the prohibited brew.
In coming up with the sentence, the court took into consideration that the illicit brew was dangerous to both humans and animal lives and as such a deterrent sentence was called for to deter both the accused and other would-be offenders.
"I considered community service and found it to be inappropriate for a 28-year-old who chooses to live by crime instead of looking for legitimate ways of making a living," said Mr Masuku.
It is reported that on 30 October, police at Siganda Police Station received information to the effect that villagers in Mbembeswana were manufacturing and selling kachasu.
The following day two police officers proceeded to the area and upon arrival and after making enquiries they proceeded to Ncube's homestead where they found him preparing the prohibited brew.
He was immediately arrested and a 10-litre mixture of sugar, water, crushed millet which was used in the manufacturing process were recovered.
Source - B-Metro
