Zimbabweans up in arms after price of beer rockets

State media, rarely critical of government officials, also took exception, asking in a report published Saturday if Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono “appreciates the rights of drinkers”.

A 375ml pint of popular local brands Castle, Pilsner and Lion now attracts a retail price of $165000, up from Z$50000, while a 750ml bottle costs Z$330000, up from Z$100000.

Gono used his mid-term monetary policy on Monday last week to call for the removal of government price controls on beer, saying husbands were coming home drunk to their families.

Gono said: “We are creating a nation of drunkards because beer is so cheap. By doing what we did to beer (imposing price controls), we are causing disharmony in families because husbands are coming home drunk every day.

“Decision makers are now making drunken decisions. Clear beer has been made so cheap that people are now substituting water for beer.

“Streets kids are now drinking from the Meikles Hotel where they disturb peace and at times attack our tourists. I am not against beer drinkers but surely the commodity has been ridiculously priced cheaply."

His words appear to have been taken to heart. Delta Beverages, the main beer supplier, took note of the governor's words and moved swiftly to announce the sharp price increases.

For many beer drinkers, the governor's statement was the trigger for the price hikes, the Bulawayo newspaper, the Chronicle said.

The paper said “imbibers were left wondering whether the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr Gideon Gono, appreciates the rights of drinkers.”

The paper gave voice to “outraged drinkers” who also accused the RBZ governor of being severely critical of drinkers.

“I don't think the governor drinks, because if he was one of us, he wouldn't let beer be increased by such a big margin,” one drinker, “seating outside a night club”, told the paper.

Dlodlo added: “We are not saying it shouldn't have gone up, but the way he attacked drinkers was even worse than what he says when he talks about corruption.”

The governor's comments were self-defeating, another reader averred, “because by advocating for a price increase Gono was, in a way, contributing to inflation.”

Thamsanqa Ncube said: "Although Dr Gono felt that by increasing the price of beer he will bring sanity at homes as men, especially, will not be going out regularly, the opposite is true because men will rather spend money on beer than buy relish.

“The increase will kill the social lives of many people. If men cannot get beer then their next target are women. I feel sorry for married women."

Struggling Zimbabweans got a rare treat in July when they found across-the-board price slashes ordered by President Robert Mugabe also applied to beer.

Although beer quickly disappeared from retail outlets, it has still been available in hotels and bars - sometimes costing just Z$70,000 per pint, the equivalent to less than 20 US cents at the black market rate.

In some outlets, a pint is selling for up to Z$280,000, still less than £0.50 at black market prices. Bar patrons say the new prices are too high.

Article courtesy of New Zimbabwe.com