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Pamela Shumba/Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporters
SOME supermarkets and grocery shops in Bulawayo are still selling the Dragon and Twizza drinks, which the government banned last week.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care said the beverages violate import procedures and do not meet the country’s health standards.

The Dragon, which costs $1 for 500 ml, is a caffeine-based energy drink that has become popular, especially among university students who drink it to ward off sleep while studying for examinations.

Twizza on the other hand is a two litre fizzy drink, being sold for $1 a bottle compared to other fizzy drinks that cost about $2.

Shop owners yesterday said the directive communicating the ban of the products had not reached them.

A survey conducted by The Chronicle revealed that some smaller supermarkets were still stocking the banned products.

However, major supermarkets in the city have scrapped the products from their shelves and refrigerators.

Managers and shop attendants who spoke to the news crew said they would sell the products until they got official communication that they had been banned.

African Saloon Café grocery shop in Makokoba suburb still stocks with Dragon energy drink and Twizza fizzy drinks.

African Saloon Café’s shopkeeper, Kudakwashe Nyathi said: “I’ve heard rumours that it was banned. I never read the newspaper or watched the news where it was announced. As it stands it’s business as usual but if we’re told to remove it. We will comply,” said Nyathi.

City’s Pactraus Supermarket manager, Servius Mukweshi said: “I heard that it’s banned but we had a lot of it in stock. Right now we are trying to clear what we had purchased. We were not told to remove it from the shelves. So we are selling what we have,” said Mukweshi.

Innscor Africa’s Limited’s Express Inn supermarket was also stocking Dragon energy drink with an official saying they wanted to clear their stock.

“Life is tough, we just want to clear the stock. We’re only left with a few bottles in our refrigerators. You can even check for yourself. I doubt that the remaining four will cause much trouble,” said an official who declined to be name.

Vendors said it was business as usual as the product is on demand.

“I’m selling it for one dollar. Actually I’m surprised to hear you say that it was banned. Why was it banned?” asked Tedious Moyo, who sells his wares at Renkini long distance bus terminus.

The government last week announced that Dragon and Twizza drinks had been banned.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care said both drinks were a health hazard. The ministry also said proper import procedures are not followed when the beverages are imported.

The Dragon energy drink, according to people who drink it, reduces fatigue and improves concentration.

Health experts, however, say the energy booster has a high concentration of caffeine, which increases blood pressure and heart rate and may be fatal if taken in excess.

Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa could not be reached for comment yesterday.