A Combined team of State,Prisons and Council Police in Mazabuka yesterday swung into action and rounded up 20 ‘Kachasu’ distillers, among them prominent businessmen who are currently detained at Mazabuka police station cells.
Some 12,600 litres of the illicit beverage were seized from Kachasu distillers in Zambia, Nakambala and Kabobola townships.
And the operation, that involved 48 security officers, was almost thwarted when an elderly woman in her 60s from Kabobola township, dared police officers to arrest her if they were brave enough.[quote]
The identified woman, who resisted arrest, threatened to bewitch any officer who would lift her, turning security officers into spectators for one and half hours.
The old woman, who has been in the business of selling ‘Kachasu’ for 25 years, only handed herself to police after a middle aged woman requested her to stand up and accept the arrest.
Meanwhile, Mazabuka Town Clerk, Ekan Chingangu, says the clamp down on people producing illicit liquor will continue until the town is rid of illicit alcholo.
He said the council is concerned with the health of the residents, especially that illicit distillers used molasses, a by-product of sugar, to produce the illicit spirit.
Mr Chingangu said the huge number of security officers was meant to thwart any violence against the security officers given the previous experience in which Kachasu distillers and traders turned violent against them.
He said he has directed police to ensure all the detainees paid K450,000 before they are released from detention and prosecute those that will fail to pay the penalty fees.
He urged Zambia Sugar Company to help the local authority by refusing to sell molasses to residents in 20 litre containers.
Efforts by ZANIS to get a comment from Zambia Sugar Corporate Affairs Manager, Lovemore Sievu, failed as he was reportedly out of the country on official duties.
ZANIS
leave them alone. All alcohol products are illicit. Arrest the careless drinkers instead
Yes leave them. Who is going to feed their families??
Come to think of it. Does our constitution actually say that if you brew a local beer like Katata, Tobwa, Kachasu and the like you are actually breaking the law? Those of you have studied the constitution please enlighten us. Otherwise funny story. Sounds like this woman is FTJ and he has told RB what this woman told police officers and Max Nkole did not believe, then touched FTJ with an appear and the rest is history. So all government agencies are scared to touch FTJ. He can bewitch you or you can be crashed by a stone as the FTJ puts it himself
allow some donation to RB. He enjoys strong whisky, I feel this would be good for him
I dont see problem of brewing Kachasu esp if it is from molasses. The best way this issue can be solve is for these local brewers to make a cooperative and produce their product in packed packets like they do for Number one ( Kachasu from Malawi or totaparks)
Selling molasses is not a crime. Where do you think the company will do with it. Whatever somebody does with it is not Zambia sugars responsibility. If Kachasu was brewed and drunk by the rich it will be legal but now that its brewed by the poor its illegal. Hypocrates!
Whats the difference with the Tujilijili?
Temporary solution to many years old ,kachasu brewing (unrecognised)industry. Why not improve on the local technology and encourage these highly skilled brewers to reduce alcohol content or maybe even add flavour ?
WHAT ARE STATE PRISON OFFICIAL DOING IN ARRESTING PEOPLE?
These useless police men and prison warders should be out apprehending real criminals instead of the poor citizens who are trying to make an honest living. Now these poor zambians will have to face the harsh realities of this country with a sober mind being drunk was a way for the to forget about the problems government has put upon them……
leave us alone with our ‘chinzimu”
The town clerk of Mazabuka Council is a joker. Where he hails from Mwinilunga Kachasu (Dituku) brewing is order of the day. In fact the majorityof those arrested if screened will turn out to be Lundas or Luvales. The man is killing the spirit of enterprenurship. Those brewers are trying to make ends meet. At least no one has died of Kachasu like that guy in Chongwe who took 14 sachets of Officers(Tujilijili). I am told LCC has moved to close the factory hence throwing pipo in unemployment and loss of revenue to GRZ. Let us be serious. With this economic crunch, pipo should be allowed to use their iniative to do what they can best. The best would have bin to arrest that local chief marrying off his school going daughter.What mischief by the localauthority.
They should be arresting Buumba for assault not what they are doing.
Well here we are again….i thought creativity was supposed to be encouraged!! alas its sad,un called for and simply irresponsible on the part of the authorities to resort to sending people to jail. and here are my reasons:
– The brewing of kachasu shows that people are being resourcefull
– Why not standardise the brewing process to make it safe
– This is were resaerch and development comes in, iam sure the school of chemisrty at UNZA can have something to say,and were is the NCSR
– It does show no logical and strategic thinking from the Town clarks office
– when are we going to learn that we too can create things in a manner that works for us.
– regulating its production can solve all that,,,,only send people to jail if they dont pay tax and dont meet the prescribed standard…..
The British arrested the local people brewing kachasu to protect their industries,There is nothing illegal is brewing kachasu. Zambian democracy works only for the politicians too many things are wrong too many blind followers e.g curfew is only for the poor those who are not driving.