HARARE – The healthiest drink is clean water – other options may come at a price. As you digest this piece, one of fast-selling beve...
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HARARE – The healthiest drink is clean water – other options may come at a price.
As you digest this piece, one of fast-selling beverage
products Twizza has bed farewell to the ever-demanding Harare market. The
hugely popular drink which had virtually replaced Coca Cola as the number one soft
drink due to its favourable pricing is no more.
Words by Derick Matsengarwodzi: media consultant,
author and founder of Aloe Media Group. Let us interact through: Facebook;
Email: derickmats@gmail.com; Blog: http://tinzwei.blogspot.com.
With the economic
meltdown now relentlessly heaving upon the nation, spending money is dwindling.
So, what is your favourite drink?
Goodbye
Twizza
According to research done by The Aloe News, “Twizza Soft Drinks was
founded by Ken Clark in 2003. The soft drink production far surpassed that of
the already prosperous dairy – and the factory thrived so much. In November
2012, a second facility was opened up in Middelburg.
Today, despite competition from international soft drink brands,
Twizza supplies loyal consumers in the Eastern Cape and beyond.” Information
gained from the official website reveals. However, Harare authorities maintain
that nutritional and ingredient contents are falsified to meet local laws. In
addition, foreign-manufactured goods use cheaper ingredients as compared to
local ones. This non-labelling of products has given rise to disease causing
rumours.
Cancer
saga
Zimbabweans can be easily swayed by rumours. It
all began when people peddled lies that Bompies, a plastic-packaged cool drink
was manufactured in South Africa. However, this rumour is false. Bompies are a
local product and the owners had to run full-page adverts attacking the rumour
that their product is cancer-giving. Since then, the product has lost its
market status; with children most consumers now shun it for other products.
The manufacturer had to cough around $4 000
for a full page advert in a local weekly read by The Aloe News in a bid to counter the news. The rumours regarding
the cool drink can be linked to angry competitors who sought to manipulate the market
by spreading false news, phenomenon common within many markets in order to
discredit a popular brand using social media platforms, noted a company
executive.
Dragon
kick
Red Bull is a leading energy drink – and is
believed to give users ‘wings’. Dragon, an imitative power drink was supposed
to substitute the expensive product as it peddled around $2 a can. Before long,
the energy-providing drink was booted out of the Harare market.
“Dragon was one of my favourite drinks since I
stopped taking alcohol. Compared with other energy drinks, its price is fair
and affordable.” A customer approached by The Aloe News revealed. Retail groups
say most outlets were enforcing government’s directive to discontinue selling
the product though some sections are yet to comply.
Illicit
substitutes
While Twizza exited
the beverage scene, beer brewers still face stiff competition from illicit
brews such as Msombodia emanating from bordering Mozambique. The brew has found
willing takers because of its instant kick prowess, with 43 percent alcohol
content – a feature absent in local alcoholic drinks.
Such is the impact of the
illegal brew that Delta a subsidiary of SAB Miller suffered a considerable
downfall in consumption in 2013. Lagers cost anything above $1.50 while illegal
brew is pegged at only $1.
“We drink bronco (cough
mixture) and Msombodia because they are highly intoxicating and last longer
than other substances on the market.” – The
Aloe News
• This text cannot be reproduced without prior consultation with the
author.
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