In Mbare, one of the most densely populated townships in Zimbabwe, a 45-year-old man fills small vessels with a turbid liquid while sitting on a makeshift stool.
The air is heavy with the smell of stagnant alcohol.
The resident of Mbare is just one of the “backyard brewers” in Zimbabwe who produce fake whiskies, brandies, vodka, and other beverages to make ends meet as economic optimism wanes.
“My life changed when I got into this business,” the brewer, a former heavy equipment technician who declined to give his name, stated. I left the (mechanics) industry because of the poor pay.
Popular among youthful patrons of municipal establishments, the homebrew beverage is produced by diluting ethanol concentrate with large volumes of water and then adding a brown coloring derived primarily from pastry components.
This 250-milliliter container of this imitation of renowned alcoholic beverages such as Two Keys, Jack Daniel’s, and King Stallion Brandy costs less than fifty cents.
The brewer, who entered the market in 2011, explained, “We always check to see which label is in higher demand and produce that.”
“We produce identical alcohol under different labels,” he chuckled.
Because homebrewers lack a reliable method for determining the alcohol concentration, authorities say the practice endangers lives.
The police have increased the number of times they attack breweries.
“Wherever we find substances like illicit alcohol, we act,” police spokesman Paul Nyathi told Reuters, adding that those detained are charged with possession of dangerous drugs.
According to Nyathi, police across the nation have made 4,000 arrests since the beginning of the year.
The brewer bemoaned, “The police raid us every single day… business is not the same.” It is too dangerous to display our goods at the present.
According to civil society organizations, alcohol and substance consumption are on the rise in Zimbabwe, and counterfeit alcohol is a significant factor.
However, the government does not collect data on the prevalence of substance abuse in the country. There are no publicly supported substance treatment facilities in Zimbabwe.
Knowledge Mupembe, a program officer with the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network, stated, “The evidence on the ground points to a great deal of illicit alcohol use.” Our organization encourages the development of publicly funded and economically accessible rehabilitation centers.
