Eight imbibers have died while five have been to the hospital after drinking alcohol suspected to have been poisoned in Manase Township of Blantyre.

It is being reported that on Saturday morning, victims including the deceased, were drinking beer knows as Magagada (Ambuye Mtengeni) at a certain drinking joint called Adisababa in the Township.

After taking the alcohol, the imbibers started to experience strange signs as there were vomiting in their bodies like vomiting and they were taken to hospital were some pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, Blantyre Director Health and Social Services Dr. Gift Kawalazira has condemned the development and said that it has shown that the beer was contaminated after conducting their investigations.

However, Blantyre District Health Office (DHO) says it is still investigating the cause of death of people who died after taking alcohol suspected to be poisoned.

The office, has confirmed the death and said five are now in intensive unit at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre.

In a quick response to the devastating issue, Southern police department have started arresting unlicensed beer sellers in the city to cease the situation of selling untested beer.

Malawi has been struggling with the illicit sale of cheap alcohol mostly consumed by unemployed young men and some minors.

Several types of cheap beer have been banned in the past, but authorities have not succeeded in having them completely eliminated from the market.