Zambia: Five people have died in Kapiri Mposhi District in Central Province after consuming an illicit local brew. The local brew may have developed poison like properties due to incomplete or unmonitored brewing.
The alcohol concoction is locally known as Kancramu, Muzozo or Walangana. The beverage is brewed using methylated spirit, shoe polish, sugar and other unknown substances. The unethical and potentially dangerous substances have claimed several lives already.
The law enforcement authorities and health office of the country have urged the people of the country to desist from consuming the brew.
The unsupervised and unsafe methods of brewing have caused people to face several other health concerns. Many times the people lose their eyesight and can even face temporary or permanent paralysis due to consuming the brew.
The Central Province Police Commanding Officer Charity Munganga confirmed the details of the incident for the general public. She said, the incident happened in a space of two days between May 15 and 16, 2024.
The deceased victims have been identified by the commanding officer of the provincial police force. She also highlighted that they are all from Bukali village in Chief Mukonchi’s area of Kapiri Mposhi.
The victims have been identified as:
Jonathan Sibanda aged 65,
Evaristo Mwape aged 50,
Michael Nondo aged 49,
Isaac Nkatya aged 58
Peter Luswati aged 55.
“Police received a report from a farmer from Mukonchi that five people died after consuming self-brewed beer or spirit. The concoction was mixed with sweeteners and methylated spirit,” Munganga said.
The Commanding Officer disclosed that the deceased persons have already been put to rest. She added that two more people have allegedly died in Chibombo district after consuming a similar local brew.
The health officials of the province have shared that the long term abuse of the alcoholic brew can lead to chronic diseases. The youngsters who have been engaged in the consumption of the brew, have been a reason for the districts’ decreased productivity.
The leadership of the district as well as traditional heads of the community have urged youngsters to stop engaging in the consumption of the drink.