Zimba Town Council Cracks Down on Counterfeit Drinks Produced in Unsanitary Conditions
Zimba Town Council, in collaboration with various government agencies, conducted a targeted operation that led to the confiscation of counterfeit drinks produced in unsanitary conditions.
The operation, spearheaded by a combined team of officers from the district health office, council, and state police, unfolded in Mawaya Compound, yielding a significant haul of illicitly manufactured beverages.
According to an official statement issued by Mastone Moonze, Assistant Public Relations Officer of Zimba Town Council, the operation was prompted by community members’ concerns regarding the availability of a bitter drink circulating in the market.
The focus was on a local businessman identified as Mr. Mushiba Chingundu, who was allegedly producing 2 and 5-liter juice drinks branded as FEEL GOOD at Zimba main Market using uncertified ingredients.
Led by Environmental Health Technician Mrs. Mambwe Musonda Kaemba, the enforcement team seized 172 bottles of drinks packaged in 2-liter containers and an additional 4 bottles packaged in 5-liter containers suspected to be counterfeit.
Mr. Chingundu was subsequently apprehended and handed over to the police for further investigation, as it was discovered that his business operated without the necessary legal documentation from the local authority, a violation of relevant statutes including Statutory Instrument No.20 of 2020 and sections 9, 11, and 13 of the Food Safety Act No.7 of 2019 of the laws of Zambia.
In light of this incident, the Zimba Town Council issued a cautionary advisory to the public, urging consumers to exercise vigilance when purchasing food products and beverages, as some may pose serious health risks.
Furthermore, citizens are encouraged to report any suspected instances of counterfeit foods or drinks sold within the district.
The local authority has emphasized the importance of entrepreneurs adhering to established procedures in establishing business entities within the district to ensure compliance with legal requirements and mitigate the risk of falling afoul of the law.
