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The illicit brew, also called ‘gongo’ has become a popular alcoholic drink in Tanzania’s Kafkaesque areas in the Rombo District of the Kilimanjaro Region. However, the use of dangerous chemicals in the production of this drink had reached the office of Rombo District Commissioner (DC) LembrisKipuyo which led him to initiate a campaign in order to stop the manufacturing of gongo.
Gongo has stirred up some issues because it poses some serious health problems. Based on carried investigations, this illicit brew contains high amounts of ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and manganese – all of which could lead to chronic diseases such as cancer, impotence and other illnesses.
DC Lipuyo and his team started to track down the suspects behind this poisonous drink. Until Friday (June 19), Lipuyo already caught 52 suspects carrying 3,500 barrels of maloweka ingredients which include molasses, water, ammonium sulfate and manganese – which is allegedly obtained from batteries and grotesquely enough, human feces. The human feces alone could make up the 1,800,000 cubic litres of the said poisonous drink.
“I have decided to wear a working face in less than three months we have done a lot to demolish this industry,” stressed Lipuyo.
Dr. Kondo Chilonga, Head of General Surgery Unit at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, said that ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, manganese, urea, and other minerals, could make people develop ulcers and gastrointestinal cancers when consumed in great amount.
“The minerals bring problems and could go on to affect stomach features, user may be affected by ulcers but if are taken more than once could lead to gastrointestinal cancer and also liver and kidney will be affected but in different ways,” added Dr.Chilonga.
On the other hand, Stephen Mushi, a renowned chemist, also supported the fact that the abovementioned minerals are very harmful to the human body and could lead to cancer if not dealt with at an earlier period.
Mushi also added that the consumption of these poisonous chemicals would toll the liver and kidney even more to cleanse the body.
The chemical ammonium nitrate is commonly used in the agricultural industry as one of the key ingredients in the production of a high-nitrogen fertilizer. It is also used to make explosives for the civil construction, coal mining, metal mining, and quarrying sectors. What do you think would happen if this kind of chemical is consumed? There would be events of nausea and vomiting, headaches, dizziness, stomach upset, as well as hypertension.
DC Lipuyo said that samples were already taken for tests, but the results are yet to be revealed.