Harare – July 1, 2025
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested seven senior company executives linked to a large-scale illegal alcohol production operation. The group is accused of manufacturing unlicensed alcoholic beverages using a dangerous mix of ethanol, tap water, and artificial flavours, which they then distributed to shops and members of the public across the country.
According to police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the arrests followed a joint operation between ZRP, the Ministry of Health, and ZIMRA. Authorities recovered over 4,000 litres of unregistered liquor, several sealing machines, and packaging materials designed to mimic popular brands. The fake alcohol was being sold in both urban and rural markets without any health or tax clearance.
On 30 June 2025, Evans Manyanye (38) was arrested at the North Bound Bus Terminal in Beitbridge for unlawful possession of dagga. He was apprehended during routine stop-and-search operations.
Later that day, acting on a tip-off, officers arrested Prince Piano (33) and seized a large consignment of unregistered medicinal products.
The haul included 540 bottles of Broncleer cough syrup and 40 bottles of Astra Pain syrup, which had been concealed inside boxes of oats and full-cream milk on a bus trailer.
On 1 July, three men, Tuesday Madoro (43), Walter Magore (42), and Wilson Mukachana (33), were arrested at the Parks illegal crossing point with 10.5 kilogrammes of dagga in their possession.
In a separate case the same day, police arrested Shyleen Johane (35) at a local service station, also for unlawful possession of dagga.
