Jibu Rwanda MD makes apology as consumers claim unsafety of Jibu water product

By Elias Hakizimana.

Various citizens who drink water produced by Jibu Rwanda have a negative concern about the safety of this product as they can themselves see hazardous ingredients into the bottles from the shops.

Since Sunday, April 17, 2023, a message from one client has been circulating on the social media (Twitter) as call to action for Jibu Rwanda to embark on water safety.

This client was asking Jibu Rwanda how the water that is supposed to expire in September can have green algae five months before?!He was calling Rwanda Inspectorate, competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA) to intervene as many Rwandans are drinking this water.

Hello @jiburwanda
Musobanura mute ukuntu amazi azarangira mu kwezi kwa Cyenda uyu mwaka azamo urubobi mu kwezi kwa Kane?
Mpise mpangayika kuko najyaga nywa amazi yanyu🤦🏻 Kandi disi dore aba barayanyweye, icupa riracyafunze neza 🥹. @InspectorateRw mutabare Abanyarwanda. pic.twitter.com/iaIhEWcLrl

— MAZIMPAKA JeanPierre (@MazimpakaJp) April 16, 2023

Several comments of social media users embark on unsafety of Jibu water and call for immediate action to ensure quality and safety of this product by also re-creating and sustaining a trust of this brand among the consumer community.

In June 2022, the factory was suspended by Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority over safety issues.

Jibu Rwanda’s Managing Director, Darlington Kabatende replied to the client’s claim with a letter of apology of any inconvenience caused by the situation.

Speaking to The Inspirer on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, Kabatende said that some retailers of Jibu attempt to counterfeit jibu water product following its clientele and a big number of consumers nationwide.

“like any other business, a business model strategy has advantages and disadvantages, we also cannot fully rule out that certain problems may not happen, but, with the clients’ reports, we make sure we take responsibility to find out where the problem is and we know that Jibu water is consumed everywhere, we know people counterfeit our brand and we have various testimonies from regulatory bodies such as FDA and RICA about counterfeiting our water,” he said.

Kabatende calls the public to double check and analyze the expiration date found on the water bottles to make sure it is right.

“Because when we assess the information from investigation, we find out that the bottles/jerrycans possess the expiration dates and our brand name but the water was not produced from our factories. We take responsibility as the producing institution and acknowledge the inconvenience happened,” Kabatende explained.

“Many people counterfeit our water because of their own interests, and our brand ger a damage but we always manage this kind of counterfeit.” He added.

Message to consumers

Kabatende reminds clients to first of all make sure whether the retailer is authorized dealer with Jibu Rwanda factories, to check if the bottle is fully sealed with Jibu brand and check the expiration date as the major tips to look at before purchasing the water.

He also advises consumers to report any inconvenience or unsafety condition of this product up on observation to get immediate help from Jibu field staffs.

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