Karonga defy liquor sachet ban

Business operators in Malawi’s northern district of Karonga are still selling sachets liquor despite the ban which Malawi government imposed on the product last year.

Investigations by Nyasa Times has revealed that the liquor is now being supplied in various shops and drinking joints in the district using some vehicles which distributes bakery products.

One supplier said they sometimes get the sachets alcohol from the neighboring Tanzania.

“As business operators we are after money. Whether government has restricted the selling of such alcohol or not we still sell the products.

“After all some Malawian companies who produce a cream liquor sachets known as Right Choice and other are still manufacturing the liquor sachets a clear indication that there is no re-enforcement of the ban.”

He said business operators in Karonga are lucky because of their counterparts from Tanzania who supply the alcohol at a very cheap price and they resell them at K70 per liter.

Karonga Police Officer-In-Charge Edward Chingayipe admitted that some of the business operators still sell the restricted products.

“We are aware that some people are taking the law into their hands but we are trying our best to curb the malpractice by arresting those defying the ban,” he said.

A Karonga resident Brain Nyasulu alleged that even the police officers purchase the same banned liquor the move he said shows lack of seriousness.