Editorial

Illegal brews, narcotic drugs must be stopped

THE Police Force has announced an exhaustive operation in Kinondoni, Ilala and Temeke districts in Dar es Salaam that envisages netting most of the notorious brewers of a crude, illicit gin commonly known as 'gongo.' The brew is not only illegal but also poisonous.

Last week seven 'gongo' drinkers wound up in graves after consuming what they assumed to be healthy but ended up complaining bitterly about excruciating pangs of stomachache and headaches. Most of them vomited intolerably.

Amana Hospital medics failed to save their lives.  Several others survived to tell the story. They said that it was customary for them to visit a hovel at Kigogo Mbuyuni where the 'best gongo' was brewed and was available in plentiful supply daily.  It was also cheap.

Unfortunately, it was this cheap drink that killed some of the regular patrons including the brewer. The victims who are still fighting for their lives in hospital beds do not sound to be resentful. 'Gongo' is an addictive liquour that is difficult to abandon.
It is imperative, therefore, that the Police Force tackles the prevalence of the killer gin in the community vigorously.

The Kigogo Mbuyuni incident is not isolated.  The crude gin kills drinkers from time to time in various parts of the country.
But 'gongo' is not the only illegal substance that packs a killer punch. Narcotic drugs are the other killers that are making inroads in the local social fabric. The world of narcotic drugs is a completely rabid world. 

It is a world of hallucination, loss of memory and violence!  It is a world of lunatics, violent gangsters, scarlet prostitutes and devil-may-care outlaws.  Those in the lay world hardly know that all narcotic drugs, including bhang are very dangerous.
Medics blame alcohol (especially 'gongo'), bhang, cocaine, heroin and other hard intoxicants such as valium and cannabis sativa, for causing lunacy and, in some cases, death.

Psychiatrists say low dozes can cause hilarity; changes in perception of time and space; loquacious euphoria; impaired coordination; misguided judgment; loss of memory and increased visual and auditory sensitivity. Higher doses can lead to illusions, delusions, depression, confusion, alienation and hallucinations.  Sometimes these symptoms may resemble psychotic episodes marked by fear and aggression. 

Generally, the use of illegal drugs and crime go hand in hand. In far too many cases drug abusers will literally do anything to obtain enough drugs to satisfy a habit, no wonder most bandits abuse narcotic drugs. Indeed, the Police Force must help to stem the rot.