adminThe beverages manufacturer stopped exporting during the hyperinflationary period in Zimbabwe more than three years ago.
Schweppes managing director Mr Charles Msipa said exports were set to resume next year, and would only be made after the company satisfied local demand.
“We are working to resume exports in 2012. We are setting up infrastructure to enable us to supply our export market,” he said.
Our exports of Mazoe brands will be to Kenya, Botswana, Malawi, Angola, Namibia and South Africa, he said.
Mr Msipa said Schweppes wanted to satisfy the regional markets formally since Mazoe products were illegally finding their way to those countries.
“It has come to our attention that the Mazoe brands are being smuggled to Kenya and South Africa so since we already have a market, it is easy for us to resume exports,” he said.
Zimbabweans in the diaspora, especially in the United Kingdom, he said, are also getting Mazoe Orange Crush from their family members back home.
Schweppes manufactures the very popular Mazoe Orange Crush soft drink.
A year ago, Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited (SZL) was localised with the shareholding being transferred to management and employees who took 51 percent of the company while Delta Beverages controls 49 percent.
Schweppes, currently operating at 80 percent capacity utilisation, only supplies the domestic market at the moment.
In addition to Mazoe Orange, Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited also manufactures and distributes other carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. — New Ziana.
derick.khumalo