Bwana Mkubwa Member of Parliament has disclosed that over 56 workers at an embattled company that produces the “Natural Power SX Energy drink”, were sent on circumstantial leave.
This follows the suspension of production and distribution of the product produced by Revin Zambia Limited in Ndola by the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA), Ndola City Council (NCC) and Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS).
ZAMRA, NCC and ZABS halted the production and distribution of the “Natural Power SX Energy drink” following a complaint from a Ugandan national who reportedly suffered a six-hour erection after consuming the commodity, and the reported ban of the product by the Uganda National Drug Authority and Uganda Bureau of Standards who “alleged” that the drink contains sildenafil citrate (Viagra) which is used to treat “erectile dysfunction” in men and pulmonary hypertension.
The Bwana Mkubwa Lawmaker Dr. Jonas Chanda tells Money FM News that consequently, ZAMRA, NCC and ZABS announced that they had instituted local investigations on the “Natural Power SX Energy drink” and collected samples of the raw materials from the manufacturer Revin Zambia Limited in Ndola, and of the finished product for analytical tests to determine if there is any truth to the claims being made.
“ZAMRA, NCC and ZABS further advised the public to immediately desist from consuming the drink until conclusive results are released that either confirm or dismiss the allegations, and the manufacturers of the product, Revin Zambia Limited based in Ndola, were ordered to halt the production and distribution of the energy drink until all investigations have been concluded and appropriate action taken,” said Dr. Chanda.
He says before they can even release results of their investigations, the local media have already reported that test results of the various laboratory tests carried out on the “Natural Power SX Energy Drink” have confirmed that product is safe for human consumption.
“They claim this is according to test results obtained from the Zambia Bureau of Standards, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, the Malawi Bureau of Standards and the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS),” he said.
Dr. Chanda has urged ZAMRA, ZABS and NCC to quickly release the results of the investigation and officially communicate these to the public and the workers at the Company.
He says the longer they are taking to release the results the more the over 56 workers and their families who have been sent on leave because of a lack of activity at the plant will continue suffering.
“I also wish to express my disappointment that it had to take a reported incident in Uganda and action by the Uganda National Drug Authority and Uganda Bureau of Standards in order for ZABS and ZAMRA to act. ZAMRA and ZABS are now claiming that they launched investigations before the Uganda incident, but why didn’t they announce to the public that they had launched those investigations before the Uganda National Drug Authority and Uganda Bureau of Standards did, making them look irrelevant? Where were ZABS and ZAMRA all this time that the “Natural Power SX Energy drink” has been on the market and was actually certified by them as being safe for public consumption,” he questioned.
He has also urged the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry to take a keen interest in this “Natural Power SX Energy drink” debacle following banning of the exports of the energy drink in Uganda and Malawi to rule out the possibility of a scheme by business rivals who may discredit Revin Limited company and its Zambian manufactured export product, and simply start producing their own local ‘power’ drinks to satisfy their markets given the large demand.
An effort to get a comment from both ZABS and ZAMRA proved futile by broadcast time as their phones went unanswered.