The Hidden Dangers: Unregulated Herbal Products and the Rising Toll on Health in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is grappling with a silent health crisis as the unregulated market for traditional herbal products, particularly those marketed for intimate health and sexual enhancement, continues to claim lives and jeopardise public well-being. From vaginal tightening concoctions linked to cervical cancer to charms promising physical enlargement, the allure of quick fixes sold by unlicensed vendors is proving to be a perilous path for many, often with tragic and irreversible consequences.
The Cervical Cancer Link: A Growing Concern
The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) has issued a stark warning against the use of unverified herbal products promoted for vaginal tightening and cleansing. These products, often sold outside legitimate pharmacies and health facilities, are now being directly linked to a worrying increase in cervical cancer cases across the nation.
Fungai Mushosho, a ZNFPC nurse, highlighted this alarming trend at a recent media workshop. She expressed deep concern over the widespread use of products such as Ibhodo Labafazi, Pisa Pisa, and Weti Yegudo. “Don’t put inside your body what you do not know. Most of these herbs are not prescribed through pharmacies or health institutions, yet women continue to use them without knowing what they contain,” Mushosho cautioned. She added, “We are seeing an increase in cervical cancer cases, and most of these cases are a result of the herbs that women are inserting into their vaginas.”
Mushosho’s warning underscores the critical need for women to seek professional healthcare advice and undergo regular cervical cancer screenings. Early detection remains a cornerstone of effective treatment, and self-medicating with unverified products can severely compromise reproductive health. The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirms that cervical cancer is primarily caused by persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), emphasising that screening, vaccination, and early treatment are the most effective preventive measures. The introduction of unknown substances into the vaginal canal can disrupt its delicate natural balance, potentially leading to inflammation, infections, and cellular changes that could predispose individuals to HPV infection or accelerate the progression of existing lesions.
A Tragic Tale from Epworth: The Perils of Unregulated Charms
The dangers of these unregulated products are not merely theoretical; they manifest in heartbreaking real-life stories. One such tragedy unfolded in Epworth, where a 21-year-old woman, Jacqueline Gatsi Terepi, died after using a traditional medicine intended to enlarge her genital ‘twins’.
Jacqueline, originally from Nyagwiti village in Rushinga, Mt Darwin, was residing in Overspill, Epworth. The incident, which occurred on 26 July 2025, prompted a police investigation and served as a grim reminder of the risks associated with purchasing unverified remedies from street vendors.
According to Progress Sambare, Jacqueline’s 26-year-old landlady, the chain of events began when other female tenants purchased a herbal concoction from itinerant vendors, claiming it would enlarge female genitalia. Mrs. Sambare recounted, “They bought this medicine, and some started using it, applying it and succeeding in enhancing their ‘twins’ to their desired length.”
Jacqueline, a divorced mother of a two-year-old child, then obtained the medicine from her co-tenants. She locked herself in her room and began applying the substance to her private parts. Shortly after, her cries for help filled the air. “While inside the room, she started shouting to the others, saying she was feeling a burning sensation all over her body,” Mrs. Sambare explained. Jacqueline’s condition rapidly worsened. “She started vomiting and developing rashes all over her body, saying she was burning,” Mrs. Sambare continued. “The woman took off all her clothes, including her underwear, and ran outside sweating. We had to grab her to stop her from running outside naked. At that time, we took her back into the house and laid her on the bed. She was showing signs of weakness.”
In a desperate attempt to save her, the other tenants carried Jacqueline in a blanket to seek assistance from local women known for traditional healing practices. However, their efforts were in vain. “We then carried her in a blanket to some women who help, where they did what they could. We came back with her, and she died here at the house shortly after,” Mrs. Sambare stated, her voice heavy with grief.
Following Jacqueline’s death, the vendors responsible for selling the dangerous medicine were apprehended by the police. The body was taken for examination, and Jacqueline was buried at her rural home in Rushinga. While the exact composition of the herbal remedy and its direct link to her death remain under investigation, Mrs. Sambare emphasised the inherent dangers of unregulated street medicines. “In this case, we have learned that buying medicines from the streets causes us harm; look, one of us has left us,” she lamented.
Jacqueline’s father, Ngoni Terepi, 42, expressed his profound grief and uncertainty. “We were just told that the child and her friends were using medicines to enlarge their ‘things’ when this accident happened,” he said. “Whether that is the case or whether there is something else, I do not know. I am waiting to hear what came out of the examination of my child’s body because I did not witness it.”
Everjoy Mudzaki, 29, a fellow tenant, corroborated the harrowing events. “We spent the day well with our friend until about 2 pm when two other women who live here bought this ‘thing’ enlargement medicine,” she recalled. “She was then also given some, and she applied it and locked herself in her room, where she then started shouting, saying she was burning, and then started vomiting and foaming while losing strength. We then took her to get help from some women, and we came back with her, and she died while defecating on herself. We do not know whether it was the ‘thing’ enlargement medicine that killed her or something else.”
Traditional healers have also voiced their concerns. Annah Muzimbi, 47, also known as Gogo Madhuve or Madzimai Merekina, of the Johane Masowe Nyenyedzi Nomwe yeNguwo Tsvuku church, attempted to assist Jacqueline. “This woman was brought to my court in a blanket, already very weak,” Madzimai Merekina explained. “I saw that her genitals were excessively swollen, and she was foaming at the mouth, meaning that she was already losing breath. The medicine they were sold to enlarge ‘things’ is harmful; there are such medicines that are harmful, like a poisonous caterpillar. People should not buy medicines from people who walk around in the streets.”
Morgan Chakandinakira, 55, Madzimai Merekina’s husband, issued a stern warning: “Medicines to increase the ‘things’ of women or men are harmful, and people end up dying, as happened in this case. Let us live with our lives as we were created.”
George Kandiero, head of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha), urged caution, advising against purchasing remedies from unregistered street vendors. “People should abandon the issue of buying medicines on the streets from people who walk around without licenses to do this work,” Kandiero stressed.
The Wider Impact: Men and Unregulated Sexual Enhancement Products
The problem of unregulated sexual enhancement products is not confined to women. Men too are falling victim to dangerous concoctions promising increased virility or penis enlargement. Numerous reports from Zimbabwe and beyond highlight severe health complications, including deaths, linked to the use of unverified male sexual enhancement pills and creams.
Cases of men suffering from heart attacks, liver and kidney failure, and other adverse effects after consuming unregulated sex enhancement drugs are frequently reported. These products often contain undisclosed ingredients, incorrect dosages of active pharmaceutical ingredients, or harmful contaminants. For instance, some pills marketed as herbal remedies have been found to contain dangerously high levels of sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, without proper labelling or medical supervision. This can lead to severe cardiovascular events, especially in individuals with underlying health conditions.
One tragic incident reported on social media involved a Zimbabwean man who died during sexual activity after taking sex steroids to enhance his performance. While specific details are often scarce in such reports, they collectively paint a grim picture of the risks associated with bypassing legitimate medical channels for sexual enhancement.
The demand for these products is driven by various factors, including societal pressures, misconceptions about sexual performance, and the pervasive marketing of unproven remedies. The ease of access to these unregulated products through street vendors and informal markets further exacerbates the problem, as consumers are often unaware of the potential health hazards.
The Call for Regulation and Awareness
The incidents involving Jacqueline Gatsi Terepi and the broader warnings from the ZNFPC underscore a critical need for stricter regulation of traditional and herbal medicines in Zimbabwe. While traditional medicine plays a significant role in many communities, the proliferation of unverified and potentially harmful products poses a serious public health threat.
There is an urgent call for increased public awareness campaigns to educate both men and women about the dangers of unregulated sexual enhancement and intimate health products. These campaigns should highlight the importance of seeking advice from qualified healthcare professionals and purchasing medicines only from licensed pharmacies and reputable sources. Furthermore, law enforcement agencies must intensify efforts to crack down on the illegal trade of these dangerous substances and hold unscrupulous vendors accountable.
The health and safety of the Zimbabwean populace depend on a concerted effort from regulatory bodies, healthcare providers, traditional healers, and the community at large to combat the spread of these perilous, unregulated remedies. Only through education, vigilance, and stringent enforcement can the rising toll on health be mitigated and future tragedies averted.