Connect with us

News

Zimbabweans drank record amounts of lager beer in 2022

Published

on

HARARE – Zimbabweans drank record amounts of lager beer in 2022, handing the country’s biggest brewer Delta Beverages revenues of US$713 million in the year.

Demand for beer was driven by government construction projects, miners, farmers, and workers who were paid more in foreign currency, the company says.

Advertisement

But the company says the exchange rate crisis, poor infrastructure, inflation and even traffic jams are major risks to business.

The company says 67 percent of its sales are in US dollars, and the company uses its own internal measures to gauge real inflation and prepare its unaudited accounts.

Indicative USD profit was US$140.6 million for the year.

Advertisement

“We have hit record volumes, the highest ever the company has achieved, and with it follows the profitability driven by volumes.

“We sweated our available capacity, improved productivity to achieve that volume.

“It’s higher than the theoretical capacity that we have. We were pushing our machines,” CEO Matlhogonolo Valela said at a briefing for its results on Thursday.

Advertisement

“This is territory last seen in 1998 when the war vets got their 50 000 hectolitres (gratuities),” Valela quipped.

“In that year, we did about 4.5 million hectolitres.”

The company spent US$70 million on capital expenditure last year to increase capacity and sell more beverages.

Advertisement

Current projects include adding 33 percent more capacity in the returnable glass production line by June, “which should allow us to supply the market better”, Valela said.

Infrastructure is a major drawback for the company, he said.

“The road network is terrible outside the main cities. It is compromising our ability to supply our customers” said Valela.

Advertisement

In the cities, traffic jams are making it hard for the company to supply its customers fast enough.

Maize supply was also a concern in 2022, so the company is expanding the hectarage that it contracts so that it can secure its own maize without having to rely on GMB.

“We are the biggest land bank in the country,” Valela says, referring to the large number of maize farmers who grow maize on Delta contracts.

Advertisement

According to Delta, its own measure of prices shows that Zimbabwe’s annual inflation is 204 percent.

Earlier this year, the government stopped releasing Zimbabwe dollar inflation, preferring a “blended” rate that businesses says does not adequately measures price trends.

Delta does not see Heineken’s takeover of Distell, which owns its associate Afdis, as a threat, saying it in fact sees this as an area of cooperation.

Advertisement

The Heineken deal will see the Dutch brewer taking over Distell, a transaction that also includes Namibia Breweries, brewer of the Windhoek lager.

The deal means Heineken will complete against AB InBev, which owns SABMiller, Delta’s main shareholder.

“We do not expect any adverse relationships (with Heineken).

Advertisement

“We think we have put sufficient mechanisms to make sure that we can work together at Afdis,” Valela said. – newZwire

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Police Hunt For A Nkayi Murder Fugitive

Published

on

By

BY STAFF REPORTER 

A Nkayi man is reportedly on the run after allegedly assaulting a fellow villager with an unknown object on the head on New Year’s Day. 

Advertisement

Police have identified the fugitive at Joinisa Tshuma from Dabe village who is being sought for a murder charge. 

“ZRP is appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of Joinisa Tshuma who is being sought in connection with a case of murder in which Mcebisi Moyo died on 07/01/24,” police appealed. 

“The suspect allegedly assaulted the victim on the head with an unknown object near a bush in Dabe Village, Nkayi on 01/01/24 before he fled the scene.”

Advertisement

According to police, the victim sustained some head injuries and he was admitted at Nkayi District Hospital where he succumbed to the injuries.

Meanwhile, Police in Machipisa are also  investigating a case of murder which occurred on Wednesday, in which a yet to be identified male adult approximately aged 30 years who was wearing a yellow t-shirt, black trousers, black gum boots and a black cap, was found lying dead with a stab wound on the back near Mapuranga Transport Service Garage in Harare. 

Police are also appealing to the public with information surrounding the incident. 

Advertisement

“Anyone with information to report at any nearest Police Station.” 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Full ZRP Statement on Armed Robberies Raiding Elite Schools 

Published

on

By

As the schools open, parents and guardians are in the process of paying school fees, levies and other related school costs, for their children.

School authorities are therefore urged to deposit all monies at financial institutions to curb armed robbery cases.

Advertisement

The issue of collecting cash by school authorities at schools should be reconsidered given the recent armed robbery cases.

The Police has recorded armed robbery cases in Bulawayo and Chinhoyi in which schools are being targeted.

In one of the cases, unknown suspects pounced at George Silundika High School at corner George Silundika Street and Third Avenue, Bulawayo on 06th January 2024, where they stole US$17 280.00 cash which was in a cash box.

Advertisement

In another case which occurred at Lomagundi College, Chinhoyi on 09th January 2024, 12 unknown suspects attacked security guards before stealing an undisclosed amount of cash, a Mazda Tribute motor vehicle, cellphones and laptops, among other valuables.

School authorities are urged to step up security measures at schools and employ guards from reputable security service providers who constantly monitor and review deployments.

Above all, school authorities should install CCTV at points of entry and administration offices.

Advertisement

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is concerned that some of these robbery cases are resulting from leakage of information.

Members of the public are warned that those who provide inside information to robbery syndicates will be arrested.

Police crack teams are firm on the ground and will pounce on armed robbery syndicates for the law to take its course in earnest.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

News

ARTUZ condemns government for opening of school amid Cholera outbreak

Published

on

By

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has condemned the government’s decision to reopen schools due to the cholera outbreak wreaking havoc in most parts of the country, labeling the move reckless and disregarding the pressing concerns raised by parents and teachers. 

Advertisement

Statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Child Care last week showed since the outbreak of cholera, Zimbabwe has recorded 15 137 suspected cholera cases, 1 759 confirmed cases, 14 578 recoveries, 67 confirmed deaths and 266 suspected deaths.

“We vehemently condemn the government’s reckless decision to open schools amidst the widespread cholera outbreak, completely disregarding the pressing concerns raised by parents and teachers,” reads the statement.

“We demand that the government immediately mobilize substantial resources to ensure the safe reopening of schools because our children deserve nothing less than a secure and conducive learning environment. 

Advertisement

“It is the duty of the government to provide sanitary solutions and ensure the safety and well-being of our children.

The union also called on the government to consider an upward increment of teachers’ salaries, criticizing the government’s lack of engagement with educators, particularly regarding their ongoing demand for a US$1 260 salary.

“Also, it is utterly disappointing to witness such a hasty move without even bothering to engage with the educators who have been tirelessly advocating for a just salary of US$1260.

Advertisement

“The safety and welfare of our students and teachers should be the utmost priority, but it seems that the government is callously neglecting this responsibility.

“It is high time for the government to prioritize the well-being of our education system and take meaningful action to address the urgent needs of our dedicated teachers. ” 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 VicFallsLive. All rights reserved, powered by Advantage