Police yesterday cut off a njengu distribution network in Bulawayo in what is arguably the city’s biggest illicit alcohol bust in recent years.
They seized two truckloads of the outlawed booze and
arrested two men suspected to be major players in the underground market.
Police yesterday cut off a njengu distribution network in
Bulawayo in what is arguably the city’s biggest illicit alcohol bust in recent
years.
Njengu is a street name for illicit spirits that are
produced illegally within and without Zimbabwe, outside of the approved and
regulated production process of registered and legitimate manufacturers. The alcohol
doesn’t comply with standards that ensure the quality and safety of products.
It is believed that roughly 25 percent of all alcohol
consumed around the world is illicit. Drinking it can make one sick or even
cause death.
They seized two truckloads of the outlawed booze and
arrested two men suspected to be major players in the underground market.
In Bulawayo the alcohol is widespread and is mostly
consumed by youths who cannot afford legal alcohol. Most of the dealers of the
illicit brew operate in the market space along 5th Avenue and Jason Moyo
street.
Police said it was coming for everyone who sells illegal
alcohol in the city.
They yesterday used a seven-tonne truck to load alcohol
that was found following the arrest of the dealers. So huge was the consignment
that the truck had to carry two loads.
Police were yet to quantify the monetary value of njengu
that they had recovered by the time of going to press.
Officer Commanding Bulawayo Central District Chief
Superintendent Vusumuzi Nkomo said all the illicit distributors of alcohol are
on notice.
“We have arrested two stockists who have been charged with
operating without a liquor licence and also selling. Some of the spirits we
suspect are produced outside the country and are brought into the country in
large quantities to these distributors.
We want to warn other distributors who are around the city
that we are going to be out in full force raiding them.
They should stop distributing these illegal products
because they are a threat to our communities,” said Chief Superintendent Nkomo.
He said police are deploying their intelligence teams so
that they provide them with real time data in identifying and arresting the
njengu dealers.
Chief Superintendent Nkomo said police also believe that
some of the alcohol that was recovered could be counterfeit of locally produced
brands.
“What you see is some consignment that has been recovered
from one of the stockists in the city,” he said.
“This stockist, we discovered that he does not have any
papers, meaning he is not licensed to sell alcohol. We suspect that most of the
products are counterfeit products, commonly known as njengu and sold in the
market place between Jason Moyo and 5th Avenue.
“From the products sold here there is the Star Brand
originally produced by African Distillers (Afdis), but we suspect that
criminals scan the (Afdis) sticker and use it with this illicit brew that is
sold mostly to youths.”
He said the danger of counterfeit products is that what
might be inscribed on the sticker might not be the real alcohol content in the
brew. Chief Superintendent Nkomo said this could result in members of the
public drinking alcohol of higher quantities than prescribed which can be
damaging to their health.
He said the unregulated alcohol is also producing social
misfits who commit heinous crimes such as murder and rape.
Chief Superintendent Nkomo said abuse of alcohol has also
led to some people suffering mental illnesses with others ending up being
destitute.
Police have been deployed to deal with the scourge. Vuzu
parties will not be left out.
“This festive season, as the Zimbabwe Republic Police we
are out in full force and we have deployed in every corner and inch of the
central business district. We will be arresting those who will be drinking in
public spaces. We are also alert that there are issues of Vuzu parties by
school going children. We have deployed our intelligence teams so that we can
act on these Vuzu parties,” he said.
Saturday Chronicle yesterday observed police as they loaded
some of the alcohol into their seven tonne truck from a backyard distribution
centre situated between 4th Avenue and 5th Avenue and Fife Street and Jason
Moyo.
Rosemary Khumalo who lives near 5th Avenue market place,
said she was tired of the noise made by motorists that come to buy alcohol from
the backyard distribution centre.
She commended police for arresting the dealer.
“Yesterday we just observed six trucks off-loading alcohol
here. These people had become a nuisance as some of them were even urinating on
the sanitary lane. We are really grateful that police have acted against this
operator,” she said. Chronicle
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