Now kachasu being abused as COVID-19 remedy

SANFROSSA MANYINDA writes THE locally-brewed spirit, commonly known as Lutuku or Kachasu, has become a part of life for not only young people in Kitwe’s highly-populated townships, but also for the elderly who now believe that it could protect them from contracting Covid-19. The highly-intoxicating spirit, distilled in drums through a home-made system, is common in Ipusukilo and Mufuchani where residents are drinking it as a preventive substance against contracting the pandemic. Lutuku is an illegal traditional distilled alcohol is common in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Congo and Malawi. A number of people interviewed said that they liked the local alcohol because it could not only send someone into a drunken state without spending so much money, but that it also had an element that could prevent them from contracting the virus. A check by The Sun in Ipusukilo found many men, women and youths in the area pretending to have distantly gathered for other activities, when they actually gathered to exchange turns in drinking the illicit alcohol in many places within the area. A man believed to be in his early 40s said that the alcohol was also used as hand sanitizer for those that could not afford to buy conventional sanitizers from shops. Mike Musonda, a youth of Ipusukilo Township, however, said that most young people had resorted to drinking potent beverages due to high unemployment levels in the district. “We drink so that we can forget about our problems in such kinds of drinks. We also love these brands because we cannot afford to buy the expensive ones that some people buy. Moreover, we have received information that this specific alcohol can help us protect ourselves from the corona virus” he said. Mr Musonda said that youths were struggling to make ends meet hence a number of them involving in such an activity. Another youth, Edwin Mbulo, acknowledged the negative effects of consuming such alcoholic beverages frequently but could not avoid it because of desperation to find ways of preventing Covid-19. But the Kitwe City Council has warned that it would not tolerate brewing and consuming illicit drinks such as kachasu, which was a danger to people’s health. Council Public Relations Manager, Roy Kuseka, said that health inspectors from the council would be on the ground to ensure that the culprits were brought to book. The Sun