Trader: War on VIROBA fine, but KILLING US

Over 35,000 cartons of liquor packed in sachets, all valued at an estimated 5bn/-, was uncovered in Kinondoni municipality and was immediately seized pending further government steps.

In the wake of this latest haul, majority of liquor traders are said to have resorted to operating without proper licensing, neither from liquor licensing authorities nor the Tanzania Drugs and Food Authority (TFDA).

An inspector with TFDA, Mr John Nzila, who led the Ubungo team in the enforcement of the ban on sachet-packedliquor, said his team uncovered some 25,634 cartons of the spirits packaged in sachets at the Loverira Enterprises warehouse in Kimara-Temboni area.

“In this warehouse we found sachets of all the popular brands such as Konyagi, Zanzi and Vradmil in packs ranging from 50ml to 100ml … all estimated at 3.1bn/-,” said Mr Nzila. Another group went to Love Kila Enterprises located at Wazo Hill in Tegeta where it uncovered 7,000 cartons of the same brands with an estimated value of 2bn.

However, the Ilala team also unearthed more liquors - some 541 cartons - but in sachets bearing the signature of Global Beverage Company Limited. Team Leader, Mr Kasela Kasubi, said the operation was in its second phase, noting that the owner of the factory is now required to submit supporting documentation to the Vice-President’s Office, Union Affairs and Environment.

“We visited the factory in the first phase but we found it closed … we then communicated with the authorities … which is why we are here again,” said Mr Kasubi.

Other members of the Ilala Team went to Pugu, led by a Public Health Official with the Ilala municipality, Ms Fatuma Maduhu, where they visited several liquor stores and uncovered cases of unlicensed joints. At Pugu area, most of traders claimed to have damaged the sachets upon the deadline, so the team turned up just a few boxes.

Ms Maduhu said the team had noted gaps on the issue of licences, pointing out that some of the documents had expired years ago, while others did not bear either liquor or TFDA licensing.