In a decisive move to halt the surge of unregulated alcoholic substances flooding Zimbabwe’s streets, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested seven directors of Samina Liquar Company, a Harare-based firm accused of manufacturing and distributing illicit brews. The arrests, which took place on Tuesday in the Arlington industrial area, represent a significant escalation in the government’s ongoing war against harmful and unregulated alcohol products.
ZRP National Spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the arrests during an inspection of the company’s operations, describing the development as both shocking and tragic. “It is quite sad to be honest, to have a company operating without being properly registered. In the process, they are manufacturing illicit brews which are being offered to Zimbabweans. These illicit brews are dangerous to the public,” said Commissioner Nyathi. Alongside the seven directors, 25 employees were also taken into custody.
The detained directors are reported to be foreign nationals, prompting the involvement of multiple government departments to investigate the legality and regulatory compliance of the business. Commissioner Nyathi noted, “We are now working with other government departments to establish how the company was operating.”
The latest arrest comes just weeks after the courts convicted directors of another unregulated brew producer, Kombucha, highlighting a disturbing trend of companies circumventing health and safety regulations in pursuit of profit.
In response to the growing crisis, the government recently introduced Statutory Instrument 62 of 2025, which imposes a firm ban on the manufacture, sale, and distribution of illicit alcoholic brews, particularly the notoriously potent concoctions known on the streets as musombodhiya and kambwa. These brews, often produced in unsanitary conditions and containing dangerously high levels of alcohol or toxic additives, have been linked to numerous cases of poisoning, mental health deterioration, and even fatalities.
The clampdown underscores Zimbabwe’s urgent public health response to a shadowy alcohol industry that has gained momentum, particularly among youths and vulnerable communities. Authorities believe that the proliferation of these substances is not only undermining national health but also fuelling social decay, crime, and addiction.
As the investigation unfolds, the ZRP has reiterated its commitment to protecting public health and upholding the law, warning that any business or individual found producing or selling unregulated brews will face the full wrath of the law.
The arrests mark a turning point in Zimbabwe’s broader anti-drug and anti-substance abuse campaign, which seeks to restore order, dignity, and safety in communities increasingly threatened by unregulated intoxicants.
