Sex-enhancement energy drinks, a booming underworld business in Harare

SEX ENHANCING drugs have been sold on the streets of Harare for some time now but it appears the trade has exploded to another level in recent months.

This booming trade, which includes the buying and selling of unregistered drugs which are imported from countries like Zambia and the DRC, has ignited fears among authorities that it could trigger a health crisis.

The streets of the capital are now flooded with these unregistered drugs and social media sites like Facebook have become platforms for advertising these products.

One of the drugs being advertised has been dubbed the X-Drive Male Support.

Those who are pushing it, mainly through Facebook, even have a message for their potential clients.

“Some days ask more from you. With the right natural support, you can feel energised, balanced and ready,” reads their flier.

“Our herbal blend is designed to help boost stamina, circulation and confidence so you can keep performing your best.”

Madam P. Ngidi is also running some adverts on Facebook.

“We permanently cure erectile dysfunction, kumutsa kwenhengo yababa,” she brags.

A number of shops in the capital now offer many of these unregistered sex-enhancing drugs for sale.

They are also sold openly at street corners in Harare, in the Avenues area and mainly at shopping centres where there are some major liquor outlets.

“These drugs are now also being sold in our major nightclubs, just the way they sell alcohol, but they are not sold from the counter,” said a source.

“They are sold via the waitresses.

“These women become the salespersons and they sell you the idea that they even have testimonies of men who tried these drugs and their performance levels in bed improved.

“Men, especially of a certain age, battle these challenges where their performances in bed, naturally, are not what they used to be when they were younger.

“But, you know brother, this is a very sensitive area when it comes to men and, when we get to a point where we feel we are not of the standard we want, we become desperate and end up taking these drugs hoping we will get back to those good levels.

“The business is good and the demand is quite high. We now have people who are making a living selling certain coffees, which are said to boost performance in bed, and this is not happening in Harare only.”

In November last year, our sister television channel, ZTN Prime, produced a comprehensive piece on this underworld trade.

Their story had diverse voices with the users of the drugs, the sellers, sex workers, health experts and the police adding their views.

ZTN dubbed their piece ‘Hooked On PowerPlus.”

The channel, in its report, said:

“In the shadows of Harare’s busy streets, a lucrative trade thrives, preying on men’s deepest vulnerabilities.

“The sale of sexual enhancement products on the streets of Harare has been on the rise, several men have been seeking cheap and quick fixes for intimacy issues in illicit products such as PowerPlus and Bhuru.

“PowerPlus potions, as the name suggests, promise to fuel performance for men at just US$2.

“The mysterious concoctions, smuggled from countries like Zambia and DRC, at least according to the bottle stickers, are reportedly laced with prescription medicines and other unpredictable ingredients.

“Other cheap products, classified as ‘jumpers’ that are in high demand, are Bhuru and Honey and these are said to be imitations of PowerPlus.

“The allure is strong, but the risks are said to be higher.”

The channel said a change in lifestyle and sexual performance pressures has driven many men to use these products.

However, it noted that some men simply want to experiment.

A user, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed the products improved his sexual performance and reduced complaints from his wife.

“This juice called PowerPlus boosts a man’s strength so much that even your wife will stop complaining in the bedroom,” he said.

“Bhuru also works well, we are even seeing elderly men and women buying it, even though it is just an imitation of PowerPlus.”

However, there is a catch.

Experts are warning that these products could seriously damage the health of the people who are consuming them.

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) issued a warning against the use of such unregulated male sex enhancement products.

MCAZ spokesperson, Davison Kaiyo, said the authority cannot guarantee the safety of these products, as they were not registered.

“We are seeing a proliferation of male sex enhancement drugs being sold on the streets. these drugs are not registered by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe and, therefore, we cannot vouch for their safety,” said Kaiyo.

Local medical doctor, Misheck Ruwende, warned that the products pose serious health risks.

“These enhancers damage vital organs such as the kidneys, liver and heart. We have recorded cases where men experienced prolonged and painful erections after consuming PowerPlus,” Dr Ruwende said.

“Some patients complain of severe headaches and heart problems, including heart attacks, and there is no dosage to reverse these effects.

“We also have records showing that, at least, three men in Chipinge died after taking these illicit products because they did not know how to dose themselves.”

Police have also raised their concern.

“We are aware that some people are using sex-enhancing drugs such as Bhuru, PowerPlus and Honey, this is an issue the police are addressing in collaboration with medical experts,” said national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi.

H-metro