Femai urges Govt to ban Afdis products
MDC-T Senator for Harare Morgan Femai has urged the government to consider banning the packaging of cane spirits, whiskies, and brandies in quarter bottles by African Distillers Limited (Afdis), arguing that they are being abused by youths.
According to the self-styled legislator, the price being charged for the product (quarter bottles) by the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed company, make it more accessible to youths.
Afdis manufactures such products as Gold blend, Star Cane, Skipper’s, Mainstay, Viceroy and Chateau among others.
Speaking in the Senate during a question-and-answer session, Femai said Afdis should package products in bigger bottles to make them more expensive.
‘’Now the drugs coming from out of the country are few, but we have a problem of drugs that are being manufactured here in our country. Long back, we did not have liquor which was sold in quarter bottles and is now being made by African Distillers; it is being delivered to supermarkets and the cost is US$0.50.
‘’Those are some of the drugs that are bought by our children. It is cheaper to them if they get US$1, they buy two and share. Is there anything that can be done by the Ministry of Health that these small bottles should not be manufactured? They must manufacture something with a higher price so that it can be beyond the reach of the youths,’’ he said.
Govt promises to take action
In his response, the Deputy Minister of Health John Mangwiro said he was going to inform the police about it.
‘’Thank you, Madam President and Honourable Member, for explaining how we can curb this as a nation. We will explain to the police and all the stakeholders if this is being brewed in this country. These children are not only taking beer but they are being introduced to drugs like crystal meth.
‘’When you hear them say ‘sticking’, it means when they take those drugs and they will just sit for three days without feeling hungry or doing anything. We are also hearing that they are now going after diapers, even used ones.
‘’We heard diapers contain substances which if taken orally will make someone drunk. We have heard this from doctors when some patients come to the clinic or hospitals.
‘’They wash and boil the diapers and drink the residue. We heard that they are also using fertiliser. We are going to sit down and find solutions to this. Many children even those at secondary school are taking drugs.
‘’We used to hear that this was prevalent in low-density residential areas but now this has spread to high-density suburbs. We agree with what you have said. And we will do everything within our means so that youths will stop using drugs. They will end up stealing household gadgets from their parents because they want to use that money to purchase drugs. They can do anything when they are drunk,’’ he said.-
Femai urges Govt to ban Afdis products
