In a recent crackdown on illegal alcohol sales in Harare, Zimbabwe, a 23-year-old man was apprehended for selling liquor to minors on Christmas Day. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the arrest of Phaeteon Mutiyaya, who runs an unlicensed alcohol outlet in Mbare.
This arrest followed social media videos that went viral on December 26, 2023, showing minors consuming alcohol in Harare’s Central Business District. The ZRP issued a statement on December 27 detailing the apprehension of Mutiyaya for supplying alcohol to minors. Mutiyaya’s shebeen, located at Block 2C10, Nenyere Flats, Mbare, was identified as the source.
The police operation led to the seizure of a significant quantity of alcoholic beverages, including 16 × 1.25 litres of Super Chibuku, various quantities of Two Keys Whisky, Gin, Detroit beer, Skippers cane spirit, Heineken beer, Gordons Gin, Robertson wine, Chando wine, Omega whisky, Double Black whisky, Discovery Vodka, Pushkin Vodka, and Black Label quart.
Furthermore, Assistant Commissioner Nyathi revealed that the police had located all the minors involved, along with their parents or guardians, at Nenyere Flats, Mbare. The minors, aged between 5 and 11, had reportedly used Christmas gift money to purchase the alcohol and had traveled from Mbare to the Harare Central Business District to obtain it.
The ZRP has issued a stern warning to liquor outlet operators, emphasizing that selling or supplying alcohol to individuals under 18 is a violation of the Liquor Act. Violators will face arrest and legal consequences, and illegal liquor outlets like shebeens will be subjected to the law’s full force. This incident underscores the ongoing efforts by Zimbabwean authorities to combat underage drinking and unlicensed alcohol sales.”
