…as angry bar owners demand for the removal of the curtail in the distribution chain
By Martin Akende in Lilayi
A SOPHISTICATED and well connected curtail allegedly created by Rwandese have placed a massive investment to create clear beer shortage to distort market supply of alcohol.
The curtail is reportedly working with named distributors in Lusaka’s Matero, Chawama, Chilenje, Ng’ombe, Kalingalinga areas to create an artificial shortage of alcohol to create market price distortion.
Zambia Breweries has admitted that the beer shortage has been exacerbated by the unfortunate action of some dealers who are artificially manipulating supply and prices.
The Scoop understands that named Rwandese businessman is stocking alcohol in a warehouse in Lusaka’s Lilayi area with a clear objective of creating artificial shortage to manipulate the prices.
A visit at the reported premises in Lilayi this morning found light trucks offloading beer in a warehouse from a named distributor, the product which was supposed to directly go into the market.
The Rwandese businessman is reportedly redistributing and offloading the commodity to his shop situated at Kangwa area in Libala on Burma Road.
And Bar Owners and Night Club Association of Zambia president Peter Mwale is sleeves up and has warned that his association will not sit idle watching few individuals exploiting Zambians.
Mr. Mwale says it is unfortunate that some distributors have formed an alliance with unscrupulous individuals to exploit Zambians and that it is high time Zambia Breweries started distributing alcohol directly to retailers to protect Zambians from exploitation.
He says the curtail’s agenda is well calculated to remove certain players in the market as well as achieve its price manipulative behaviour.
“The recommended black label big bottle is K165 but distributors give beer to selected individuals who are selling the same commodity to retailers at K185,” Mr. Mwale complained.
