Fake sanitizers flood Bulawayo

Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – With many people in the country now aware of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, and some measures of how to control its spread, this has presented a business opportunity to some unscrupulous individuals and businesses here, who are manufacturing and selling fake hand sanitizers.

Some have abnormally hiked the prices of the hand sanitizers (original or fake) in a development that has not only worsened the plight of Bulawayo residents but also exposed them to the deadly disease that has claimed thousands of lives across the globe.

Sanitizers are one of the key hygiene instruments, seen by health experts as helpful in curbing the spread of the disease.

A survey by New Ziana in Bulawayo revealed that since the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in the country, there has been a sharp increase in the number of people supplying sanitisers.

The proliferation of home-made hand sanitisers, some of which are even dangerous to health, is driven sorely by a desire for a “quick buck”.

The unbranded sanitisers have noticeably flooded most high-density suburbs in the city.

Pharmacies in the city are selling a 125ml bottle of hand sanitiser for US$3 (or the equivalent in local currency,) itself a sharp increase from the original price of less than US$1.

However, on the street markets, the same product is going for between US$1 and US$2. While the product seems a bit cheaper as compared to pharmacies, the issue is that in most cases these are fake home made products offering no real health value.

A vendor plying his trade from Entumbane Complex following the announcement of the 21 day lockdown, said he recorded high business in the first days.

“Now business has slightly gone down due to the lockdown, but in the first days especially when Zimbabwe’s first case was detected, I recorded brisk business with many shops coming to buy from me because I had a reasonable price than big suppliers,” Tichaona Jaravaza said.

“I manufacture these things at my home, it’s not even difficult all you need are the required disinfectant ingredients especially alcohol,” he said.

Asked if his products were safe for human use, he said: “Mine are very safe, but I know of some crooks who have been manufacturing some fake stuff, just to milk desperate people at this time of the pandemic, which is bad as it soils our business reputation.”

It has also been reported that some of the fake sanitisers were causing skin diseases, particularly involving skin peel offs on hands. This has been as a result of use of chemicals with a high concentration of ethanol glutaral¬dehyde or cidex, a potentially harmful liquid containing dangerous substances, which can cause irritation to the skin, eyes and throat if inhaled or swallowed.

Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi recently warned people selling fake sanitisers.

However, the threats seem to have failed to deter the unscrupulous dealers, who have continued with their trade.

Pharmacist, Comfort Mhlanga said it was advisable that consumers buy from licenced dealers as the home made products were not checked or certified to be safe for use.

“Due to economic challenges in the country, many have resorted to buying cheap stuff from the informal traders or black market, but now we are dealing with chemicals, when you talk of hand sanitisers, so people should not endanger their health by using unsanctioned products. People are desperate to earn a living so they can mix the sanitiser with anything that comes to their mind and they sell to people, which is extremely dangerous. Already we have had reports of people who have been affected by these fake products,” Mhlanga noted.
New Ziana