Zimbabwe now running out of soft drink
A CRITICAL shortage of soft drinks is looming in the country with reports alleging that the sole supplier, Delta Beverages, has scaled down production, allegedly in an effort to force the government to review the price.
The price of soft drinks is controlled by the State andmanufacturers have to first negotiate with the governmentbefore effecting price increases.The state controlled retail price of a 300ml of a soft drinkis $2 000 while that of litre is $5 000 but the little thatis found on the market from vendors is going for $6 000 for a300ml while a 500ml pet drink is being sold for $12 000.
However, New Ziana is reliably informed that the company has vowed to keep production low until the government reviews theprice of the commodity. Some retailers who spoke to New Ziana said they last received supplies some three weeks ago as Delta officially notifiedthem that it was having difficulties in sourcing foreigncurrency to buy inputs.
Their official position to us was that they are facing foreign currency problems to import important chemicals that are used to manufacture softdrinks, said an official from a leading supermarket, New Ziana.
We last got supplies some three weeks ago and we are reliably informed that Delta vowed not to manufacture softdrinks until a review of the price is effected. Delta was the first manufacturer to notify the government and the nation that it was reversing its prices to the gazetted ones.
The Ministry of Industry and International ordered a reversal of prices after manufacturers and retailers hiked prices of most basic commodities immediately after the March 31 parliamentary election. The move caused an outcry from the public as it was viewed as a way of protesting against the outcome of the poll, which the ruling Zanu PF won with an overwhelming majority.
Most basic commodities like sugar, cooking oil, toothpaste, mealie-meal, milk and a host of other essential products vanished from the market immediately after the election.