US based Zambian Dancehall singer Tanonga Nswana also known as TBwoy has shared how his life has improved from being 11 years sober.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16Ws5WzF6R/?mibextid=oFDknk
TBwoy revealed that before his journey to sobriety, he was a customer of the cold chilled intoxicating beverages which caused him to lose phones and would at times fall prey to being accused of impregnating different girls.
“ [I have] been alcohol free for 11 years now, I must say, I don’t miss anything. No explanations as why I said what I said, I have never lost a phone since then lol,” he shared.
“I donated way too many phones in my alcohol days. No more kunamiziliwa ma mimba anymore lol, in short, I don’t do any of the stupid ‘things’ I used to do when drunk, I realised my weakness and had to sort it out. Do you know your weakness? If so, what are you doing about it?”
His post comes at a time when alcohol is sending more young Zambians to mental hospitals than ever before.
Chainama Hills Hospital is being flooded with young patients suffering from alcohol induced psychosis.
In 2023 alone, the hospital recorded 22,760 new patients, with 56 percent of them seeking help for alcohol and substance abuse.
The year before, 44 percent of 20,203 new admissions were linked to illicit alcohol use, showing a worrying surge in addiction and mental health crises.
According to the hospital, most of the people being admitted for alcohol related psychosis are between the ages of 13 and 26, the very group TBwoy’s music often speaks to.
A 2023 survey by the Coalition Against Illicit Alcohol (CAIA) also revealed that 63 percent of illegal brewing sites in Lusaka had no toilets which raises the risk of contaminating dangerous alcohol hitting the streets and wrecking lives.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, July 9, 2025
