The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested 46 suspects following a major operation targeting an illegal brewery in Harare’s Southerton industrial area, where illicit alcoholic beverages were allegedly being manufactured using ethanol under unsafe conditions.
The suspects comprise 42 Zimbabwean nationals and four foreign nationals who are now facing a range of charges linked to the unlawful production and distribution of alcoholic products.
A visit to the premises, which remains under police guard, revealed large storage tanks containing ethanol allegedly used in the manufacturing process. Authorities also recovered packaging materials and finished products that were reportedly ready for distribution onto the local market.
Police say the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to safeguard public health and enforce laws regulating the production of food, beverages and alcoholic products.
ZRP National Spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the arrests and said investigations were continuing.
“The suspects were manufacturing illicit substances under the guise that they were supplying to Zimbabweans wines and spirits, when in actual fact they are using ethanol. Ethanol, which has not been approved by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe or even the other authorities of Zimbabwe, is suitable for use in these substances,” said Commissioner Nyathi.
He expressed concern over the conditions under which the products were allegedly being manufactured, warning that the operation posed a serious threat to public health and safety.
“And then you also realise that the environment in which these substances are being manufactured is just dirty, it is just a field. Meaning to say the health and safety of Zimbabweans is at stake, and we want to warn these foreign nationals and also the locals that there are laws in the country,” he said.
Commissioner Nyathi said the suspects are expected to face charges under the Food and Food Standards Act as well as regulations governing the manufacture and distribution of alcoholic beverages in Zimbabwe.
The raid comes at a time when Government is intensifying its campaign against drug and substance abuse, a growing concern that continues to affect communities across the country.
Authorities have recently proposed the establishment of the Zimbabwe Drug and Substance Abuse Agency, a specialised body expected to coordinate national efforts to combat drug trafficking, illicit substance production and abuse.
The latest arrests highlight the Government’s determination to crack down on illegal operations that endanger public health, undermine legitimate businesses and contribute to the proliferation of harmful substances within communities.
