Gordon Chavunduka, the president of the Zimbabwe National Healers Association (Zinatha), said they were irked by the uncontrolled importation of the drugs, which are widely available in most pharmacies.
“We have approached the ministry of health, complaining over the issue,” he said. “We agreed that the government should draw up legislation on traditional medicines from outside the country.”
Chavhunduka, who described the situation as untenable, said importers of the traditional medicines were taking advantage of a laxity in the country’s laws and there was an urgent need to address the situation.
“The government is very weak and they are taking advantage of the lawlessness, since there is no law governing their conduct,” he said.
The Zinatha leader said chief among the priorities of the government would be to test the medicine, as there was a possibility that the drugs could be poisonous.
He said in most cases these imported drugs were cheaper than the ones that were manufactured locally and this had an impact on the livelihoods of a number of traditional healers.
In the same vein, Chavhunduka said some traditional healers had since resorted to supplying pharmacies with their own medicines, but there was need to ensure that this was done in a proper manner that would not have adverse effects on consumers.
Popular among these medicines is one known as zifozonke (all ailments), which manufactures claim can cure all diseases.
A concoction known as Ngoka Eleven manufactured in Tanzania has also become a hit at local pharmacies.
Its manufacturers claim it can treat 115 ailments ranging from yellow fever, syphilis, stroke, cholera to mental confusion.
The side effects, which should be “a sign that Ngoka Eleven is working and patients must continue using it” include “heat flashes, diarrhoea, increased appetite, fatigue and changes in complexion or healthier looking.”
Those who develop side effects are advised to “drink a lot of water, up to 12 glasses a day, take some pain killers, use milk and honey twice a day and do some exercises.”
There are also a number of lucky charms and aphrodisiacs coming in from South Africa whose packaging promise all kinds of miracles.
Health minister, Henry Madzorera referred all questions to the director of pharmacies in his ministry who was said to be out of the country.
Since the advent of the multi currency regime there has been an increase in the importation of foreign drugs and food supplements from South Africa.
In most cases, these drugs would not be tested by the Medicine Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ).
Efforts to get a comment from MCAZ were in vain, as officials were said to be out of the office.

By The Standard