Police dispersed a gathering of 13 young people, most of them under the age of 18, who had assembled to celebrate a friend’s birthday party in Gokwe South District last week.
The group, consisting of six boys and seven girls, had brought large quantities of highly intoxicating homemade alcohol, commonly known as “hot stuff,” to the event in Musauki Village under Chief Njelele.
By the time the police intervened, some of the participants were already visibly intoxicated.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson for Midlands Province, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, confirmed the incident to <a href="https://masvingomirror.com/police-nabs-13-teenagers-for-alcohol-abuse-at-party/">The Mirror</a>.
Mahoko said the teenagers were taken to the police station in Gokwe, where they were warned and cautioned in the presence of their parents. Those who had refused to cooperate with the police were fined. Said Insp. Mahoko:
<blockquote>
Police in Gokwe dispersed 13 teenagers on suspicion that the gathering would lead to serious abuse of drugs and substances. A tip-off was received about the gathering.
They were drinking a diluted brandy in a 20-litre bucket. The event was a belated birthday party for their friend who is 17 years old.
</blockquote>
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Pindula News

13 teenagers were arrested by the police for drinking beer at a birthday party in Gokwe. They were under 18 years old and had brought homemade alcohol called "hot stuff." Some were already drunk when the police arrived. The teenagers were taken to the police station, warned, and fined. The party was for a 17-year-old friend, and they were drinking diluted brandy from a large bucket. The police were tipped off about the gathering fearing drug abuse.

Police Arrest 13 Teenagers For Drinking Beer At Birthday Party In Gokwe

A 23-year-old man from Harare who sold beer to children on Christmas Day last year was on Friday, 01 March found guilty of selling alcohol to persons under the age of 18 by the Harare Magistrates Court.
The suspect, Phaeton Mutiyaya, was arrested after a video clip of children drinking beer in central Harare circulated on social media platforms.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said Mutiyaya will be back in Court on Monday, 4 March for sentencing. The NPAZ said:
<blockquote>
Phaeton Mutiyaya (23) who sold alcohol to 10 minors aged between 5 and 11 over the festive season was this Friday found guilty by the Harare Magistrates Court.
When a video of the drunk minors went viral on social media, the public was outraged and condemned the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18.
Mutiyaya was selling alcohol illegally from a private residence in Mbare. He will be back in Court on Monday the 4th of March for sentencing.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Man (23) Who Sold Beer To Children On Christmas Day Found Guilty

Police say they have identified and located six young girls and a boy who were filmed drinking beer at a shopping centre before a video of the incident was widely shared on social media platforms.
According to a statement posted on the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) X page this Tuesday, 02 January, the incident occurred at Juru Growth Point.
Police also said they located the parents and guardians of the minors. The children are being counselled by the ZRP Victim Friendly Unit (VFU). Read the statement:
<blockquote>
Reference is made to social media videos which went viral and showed some young girls drinking beer at a shopping centre in the country.
The ZRP has established that the place is Juru Growth Point, Murewa. The ZRP has identified and located the six young girls and one boy.
Their parents and guardians have also been located. The Police VFU is now counselling the minors in consultation with relevant Government departments.
</blockquote>
Last week, a shebeen operator in Mbare was arrested for selling alcohol to minors aged between 5 and 11 years on Christmas day. A video showing the minors drinking alcohol went viral on Boxing Day.
In Zimbabwe, the sale of liquor, including beer, is regulated by the Liquor Act, which, among other things, strictly prohibits the selling of beer to children.
Thus, selling alcohol to children is illegal and highly irresponsible. It poses serious risks to their health and development.
The legal drinking age in Zimbabwe is 18 years. Individuals who are 18 years or older are allowed by law to buy and consume alcoholic beverages.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZRP Identifies Young Girls Drinking Beer In Viral Video

A shebeen operator in Mbare has been arrested for selling alcohol to minors aged between 5 and 11 years on Christmas day. A video showing the minors drinking alcohol went viral on Boxing Day. In a statement seen by Pindula News, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi identified the operator as Phaeton Mutiyaya. 
<figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-268888" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_268888" style="width: 538px"><img alt="Phaeton Mutiyaya Mbare Shebeen Operator" class="wp-image-268888" decoding="async" height="303" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 538px) 100vw, 538px" src="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Phaeton-Mutiyaya-pictures-300x169.jpg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Phaeton-Mutiyaya-pictures-300x169.jpg 300w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Phaeton-Mutiyaya-pictures-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Phaeton-Mutiyaya-pictures-768x432.jpg 768w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Phaeton-Mutiyaya-pictures-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Phaeton-Mutiyaya-pictures-1320x743.jpg 1320w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Phaeton-Mutiyaya-pictures.jpg 1920w" width="538"/><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-268888">Phaeton Mutiyaya: Mbare Shebeen Operator</figcaption></figure>
Nyathi also said police recovered a significant amount of alcohol from the premises. Read the statement:
<blockquote>
<h3>POLICE UPDATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO SHOWING ABUSE OF ALCOHOL BY MINORS IN HARARE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT</h3>
Reference is made to the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s press statement released on 27th December 2023 on social media videos which went viral on 26th December 2023 showing minors drinking alcohol in Harare Central Business District.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Phaeteon Mutiyaya (23) for supplying liquor to the minors. The suspect operates a shebeen at Block 2C10, Nenyere Flats, Mbare, Harare.
The arrest led to the recovery of:- 16 x 1.25 litres Super Chibuku, 38 x 200m1 Two Keys Whisky, 25 X 200 ml Gin, 20 empty beer crates, 5 X 500 ml Detroit beer, 5 X 5000 Skippers cane spirit, 3 X 750 Heinken beer, 2 X 750 ml Gondons Gin, 2 X 750 ml Robertson wine, 1 X 750 ml Chando wine, 1 X 750 ml Omega whisky, 1 X 750 ml Double Black whisky, 1 X 750 ml Discovery Vodka, 1 X 750 Pushkin Vodka and 1 X 750 ml Black Label quart.
Meanwhile, the Police has identified the other nine minors who were in company of the two minors from Epworth, Harare. The minors are aged 5, 7 (three), 9, 10 (three) and 11. They all reside at Nenyere Flats, Mbare with their parents and guardians who have since been located by the Police.
Investigations by the Police have established that the minors used money given to them as Christmas presents to buy alcohol. The minors travelled from Mbare to Harare Central Business District and linked up with the two minors from Epworth.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police warns liquor outlet operators against supplying or selling liquor to persons under the age of 18. The Police will arrest violators of Liquor Act without fear or favour. Operators of shebeens or illegal liquor outlets will face the full wrath of the law.
</blockquote>
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Shebeen Operator Arrested For Selling Alcohol To Minors Aged Between 5 And 11 Years

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has said it has identified some of the minors who were part of a group of boys who were filmed while openly drinking beer in Harare’s central business district (CBD).
Two of the boys are siblings and their parents, who have also been identified by the police, separated over a year ago. The boys left home for the streets where they joined other “street kids”.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 27 December, ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi also said a local businessman recorded the viral video and is currently assisting the police with investigations. Read the statement:
<blockquote>
Reference is made to the social media videos which went viral on 26th December 2023 showing minors drinking alcohol in Harare Central Business District and subsequent Police investigations into the incident.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police reports that the identity of two minors aged 13 and 11 years is now known.
Their mother and father have also been identified and located. The father and mother separated in November 2022 with the two minors being taken into the custody of their mother in the Epworth area, Harare.
It is alleged that they later left home and engaged in street begging, vending and some misdemeanours in Harare Central Business District with other “street kids”.
On 25th December 2023, the two minors who were in the company of eight (08) street kids obtained Mayfair alcohol through a person who is yet to be identified by the Police.
The minors sat on the veranda of a cellphone shop along Inez Terrez near a prominent food outlet. They consumed the alcohol openly in public.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has also identified a local business person who recorded the viral social media video. He is currently assisting the Police to get full facts on the incident.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police is still pursuing the identity of the other minors who were in the company of the two and allegations that some women were seated at the corner of Speke and Inez Terez Street and interacted with the minors.
It has also been confirmed that the minors were drinking alcohol while eating some chips and chicken.
</blockquote>
Hundreds of street children roam in Harare and major cities in Zimbabwe. Factors contributing to street children include low household income and economic challenges, as well as rebellion against guardians or parents.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Children Filmed Consuming Alcohol In Viral Video Are Streets Kids - Police

A Zimbabwean-born nurse who was found by his wife unresponsive in bed in the United Kingdom in October 2022 had a “profound and fatal” level of alcohol in his system, a post-mortem has revealed.
The <a href="https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/lovable-leeds-nurse-found-dead-after-night-shift-with-profound-and-fatal-level-of-alcohol-in-system-4056231">Yorkshire Evening Post</a> reported that Stephen “Stavo” Chidawa (45) had finished a night shift and had gone to bed at the couple’s Gipton home in the morning on 21 October 2022.
He was found by his wife, Stacy Chidawa unresponsive in bed around 12 PM that same day.
An inquest into Chidawa’s death held at Wakefield Coroner’s Court this week heard evidence from his wife and a work colleague.
They both said he showed no signs of being drunk that day and there were no empty bottles in the house.
Stacy, who was married to Stavo for 15 years, said he enjoyed a social drink but was not drinking secretly and knew instantly when he was drunk.
Recording an open verdict, senior coroner Kevin McLoughlin said:
<blockquote>
It would be easier to fathom if you found lots of empty alcohol bottles but there was nothing. I would expect paramedics to say there was a profound smell of alcohol from him but there was no mention of it.
We are left with a mystery. It is one of the highest levels I have ever seen and I must confess, I’m stumped.
The circumstances are so bizarre. It’s unlikely he was hiding a secret habit.
I’m sufficiently puzzled as to where he could get such a quantity of alcohol.
</blockquote>
Chidawa was found to have 523 mlgs of alcohol in 100 mls of urine. McLoughlin said the limit for driving is 107 mlgs.
There were also traces of sedative drugs, zolpidem and clonazepam.
Stacy, who is a hospital social worker, said her husband arrived at their Beech Mount home at around 9 AM, showered, and then went to bed.
She said at around 12 noon she heard him sneezing and went to see him, tried to wake him but was “lifeless”. Stacy said:
<blockquote>
He did not smell alcohol, there were no clues. When he was intoxicated you could see it.
Maybe he could fool someone else, but I would pick up on it if he had a drink.
If I had seen him intoxicated I would have been asking questions, but he didn’t present that way.
</blockquote>
Chidawa left Zimbabwe for the UK in 1998 to study nursing at Leeds University.
He later worked at numerous hospitals, including the Newsam Centre in Seacroft and Lynfield Mount Hospital in Bradford.
More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

UK: Zimbabwean Nurse Found Dead After Night Shift Had "Profound And Fatal" Level Of Alcohol In System

Drug and alcohol abuse among National Prosecution Authority (NPA) workers is so rampant that some are losing their minds.
This was revealed in the NPA strategic plan review 2022 governance and administration report from January to October prepared by the acting secretary Tafadzwa Mupariwa. He said:
<blockquote>
There is a surge in drug and alcohol abuse in the National Prosecution Authority as some prosecutors and support staff are losing their minds. Some are blaming it on other factors such as evil spirits.
</blockquote>
Mupariwa urged heads of stations and supervisors to report at the earliest possible time any suspected cases of drug and alcohol abuse so that remedial action can be taken. | <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/npa-frets-over-drug-alcohol-abuse-in-its-ranks/">Chronicle</a>

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