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Peter Matambanadzo Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe has engaged Botswana over the movement of Broncleer into the country, which Harare wants banned as the medicine is illegal here.
Broncleer, a cough syrup with high alcohol content, is a banned product in Zimbabwe and is known on the street as “Bronco”.
This follows rampant smuggling of Broncleer into the country where it is abused by people seeking a cheap high. Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe spokesman Mr Richard Rukwata yesterday said, “We have an agreement that no exports should be authorised from that country (Botswana). We are in the pilot phase of this collaboration and once we see results we shall be replicating that process with other countries where the product is being exported from,” Mr Rukwata said.

He said because Broncleer was banned in Zimbabwe, anyone selling it would be prosecuted.
“This product is not manufactured in Zimbabwe, neither is it registered for sale in this country. Its presence is largely due to illegal imports from across the borders. Bronco should not be sold from licensed premises. It would be a serious offence for a pharmacist or any retailer to sell Bronco,” he warned.

Mr Rukwata said people were abusing Bronco because it contained a substance called codeine phosphate, responsible for the “high”.
“People abusing Bronco take significant quantities of it (codeine phosphate), they obviously exceed the recommended dose and this leads to intoxication,” Mr Rukwata said. He warned that the abuse of Broncleer could lead to respiratory depression, constipation, restlessness, sedation, nausea, vomiting, skeletal muscle flaccidity, bradycardia, hypo-tension and death.

“We are working with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Port Health Authority as well as the Zimbabwe Republic Police to curb the illegal importation of medicines,” he said.

Broncleer is being sold for between US$3 and US$5 on the streets. Police recently arrested three suspected drug dealers in Southerton, Harare and seized Broncleer with an estimated street value of US$20 000.