adminBongani Ndlovu in Binga
THE price of clear beer in Binga has been slashed by 50 percent, much to the delight of revellers, who have welcomed the development.
The cost of 750ml of beer, popularly known as a quart was $2 but since Tuesday last week it was slashed to $1, the price of a pint.
Regular imbibers of opaque beer (amasese) have quickly switched over to clear beer because of the slash popularly known in Binga as
Bacossi, named after the October 2007 Basic Commodity Supply Side Intervention scheme. Bacossi was a Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe initiative to provide basic commodities at lower prices than those prevailing on the market at the height hyper-inflation prior to 2008. It was unclear yesterday why Bacossi came to Binga only at this time.
Yesterday, Chronicle caught up with, Mr Moses Munkuli, who was headed to his favourite drinking spot at Binga Centre.
He said he was shocked that a number of known opaque beer drinkers were holding quarts.
“My brother everyone is drinking quarts,” he said.
Drinking spots at Binga Centre and surrounding areas such as, Manjolo, have recorded a sharp increase in patronage.
Mr Mangisi Bayela, who runs Manjolo Cocktail Bar, said opaque beer sales have gone down significantly as drinkers have shifted to clear brands.
He said the Delta Beverages Depot at Binga Centre gave extra crates of beer for free when retailers order.
“My friend, I went to Delta in Binga and ordered 10 crates of beer. I was given five crates for free. When I asked why, they said it was a promotion,” said Bayela.
A villager in Manjolo area, Mr Fambeki Mwinde said the alcohol was potent.
“People are switching to clear beer from masese because it is cheaper. If you drink three quarts, my friend you will be singing. I don’t know why it is so but this Bacossi beer iyadaka,” he said.
A villager from the same area, Mr Trust Siachambo, concurred, adding that he suspects that the beer had fermented a lot.
“My wife has been complaining since Tuesday because I am returning home at odd hours of the night because of the Bacossi beer,” he said.
He said the downside was the heavy hangover the next day.
“The beer gives you a hangover but it needs you to braai meat or to cook matemba (kapenta fish),” he said.
While their husbands are having a time of their lives, married women at Binga Centre and surrounding areas are bemoaning the Bacossi craze, saying this has led to their husbands coming home late at night.
Several women who spoke to Chronicle on condition of anonymity cried foul. They said they were not amused by this new development, which has taken their husbands by storm.
“I am not happy! The last time I saw my husband was yesterday afternoon. Today (Saturday), its 3pm he has not turned up,” said Mrs Melody Muleya in Binga, summing up the disgruntlement of most women.
Villages such as Simatelele and Bulawayo Kraal have, however, not got wind of the beer slash.
For some, the Bacossi craze made celebrating the inauguration of President Mugabe for his seventh successive term in office on Thursday, merrier.
Online Reporter