Zim GBC News | Health and Environment
A Ngundu man has died and a 71-year-old woman arrested after he consumed a two-litre bottle of a sexual enhancement concoction, known as guchu or imbiza, highlighting the deadly dangers of the unregulated traditional libido booster market flourishing on Zimbabwe’s streets.
Knowledge Chikafu (48) of Chivi died at Masvingo Provincial Hospital last Wednesday, days after drinking the mixture purchased at the Ngundu bus terminus. The incident has triggered a police warning against buying concoctions from unlicensed practitioners.
Masvingo Police Deputy Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Masauso Patinyu, confirmed the arrest of the alleged seller, Juliet Majoni.
“As the Police, we encourage citizens not to buy concoctions from unlicensed practitioners to avoid unnecessary loss of life,” said Patinyu.
This tragedy underscores a growing public health crisis as vendors of untested herbal aphrodisiacs proliferate in urban areas, particularly in Harare. An investigation by Zim GBC News reveals a booming, unregulated trade where sachets of powdered herbs, selling for as little as US$1, are hawked on busy street corners to men seeking solutions for erectile dysfunction.
A Booming, Unregulated Trade
Vendors like “Gogo Rasta,” who operates at a bustling Harare CBD intersection, report high demand.
“I have been selling herbs for over 10 years, but selling from town, I started four years ago after realising that this is where the market is,” she said.
“Most of my male clients are looking for herbs that enhance sexual performance.”
The demand is driven by the high prevalence of erectile dysfunction in Zimbabwe, which some estimates place as high as 80% among men. Sekuru Shumba, a herbalist at the Charge Office bus terminus, attributes the trend to the cost of formal healthcare.
“Many people are going the traditional route because here we deal with the problem directly unlike at hospitals where there are a lot of costly tests involved,” he said.
Experts Issue Stern Warnings
However, health experts and regulatory bodies are sounding the alarm. George Kandiero, President of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA), warned of fraudsters in the sector.
“In any sector, there are fraudsters looking to make a quick buck,” Kandiero said.
“That’s why we urge people to get aphrodisiacs from registered practitioners. Right now, if you go to the bus terminus, people sell a cup for a dollar—you drink it there. But if something goes wrong, where do you report?”
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) stated that while traditional healers can use remedies in their practice, commercial distribution requires approval.
“If an individual chooses to commercialise and distribute their products to the public, these products must first be evaluated by MCAZ to ensure safety and quality,” said MCAZ spokesperson Davison Kaiyo.
Specialist physician Mbongeni Ndlovu highlighted the direct health risks.
“There is no doubt that there are some herbs which work… but now the issue is that they are not measured,” Dr. Ndlovu said.
“Research in Zimbabwe showed that herbs were the major causes of liver failure in patients because of the unregulated dosages.”
He also raised the alarm that some vendors may secretly mix in conventional drugs like Viagra, leading to a risk of overdose.
The death of Knowledge Chikafu is a grim addition to several similar incidents, serving as a stark reminder of the potential fatal consequences of this unregulated market.
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