Roseline Mutare
MASVINGO CITY-The City of Masvingo has impounded over 20 tons of illicit liquor from bars, bottle stores including its own outlets and shebeens mainly in the high density suburbs.
City health director Suzane Madamombe told The Midweek Watch that as of Thursday last they had impounded over 20 tons of the illicit brew following the promulgation of the statutory instrument 62 of 2025 on June 6, 2025.
“Soon after the publication of the S.I 62 of 2025 outlawing the sale of illicit liquor the city embarked on a blitz resulting in the confiscation of tons and tons of the liquor. At one house we collected a truck load of Rockers and we will only release them after laboratory tests in Harare that is if the alcohol content is within the stipulated limits and they are registered as well.
“Most of those arrested claimed to be registered and that is the process we will embark on after the mop up exercise.
“Our 10t truck has been going round the city collecting the impounded illicit liquor and we are doing this with the help of the police, what have seen is shocking, over 20 tons of the liquor is now at our warehouse awaiting destruction or return to the owners if proved to be registered,” said Madamombe.
“Statutory Instrument 62 of 2025. [CAP. 9:10 Harmful Liquids Act (Amendment of Schedule to Act) Notice, 2025 THE Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, in terms of section 8(2) of the Harmful Liquids Act [Chapter 9:10], makes the following notice:
1. This notice may be cited as the Harmful Liquids Act (Amendment of Schedule to Act) Notice, 2025.
2. The Schedule to the Act is amended by the insertion after item 9 (“Nipa”) of the following item— “10. Any unregulated, unauthorised or illegally produced alcoholic beverages containing ethanol, colloquially referred to by such names as kambwa, musombodhiya or by any other name whatsoever,” reads the new law.
The crackdown has affected several bars, bottle stores and shebeens as large quantities of suspected illegal alcohol were impounded. The operation aims to protect public health and safety by eliminating the sale of unregulated liquor according to government hence it came up with the S.I.
During the raids, officials discovered substantial stockpiles of liquor, prompting concerns about the extent of the illicit trade. Bar owners were reportedly surprised by the scope of the operation, with some facing potential penalties for selling contraband liquor.
The Mayor Cllr Aleck Tabe, said the operation is part of the fight against drugs and substance abuse as well as protecting the public from harmful liquor.
The Mayor explained that confiscated liquor is sent to labs for testing, and if found to be legitimate, it is returned to the retailer.
He also assured the public that the operation is impartial and will target any establishment found selling illicit liquor, regardless of ownership, and have encouraged the public to report instances of illicit liquor sales, supporting the ongoing efforts to protect community health and safety.
