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Bubelo Moyo
2019 festive season show line-up is out, without putting a lot of energy into thinking about what could be the base price for the gigs, one may easily predict the obvious R100 price tag for ordinary tickets to witness the foreign acts, plus a bonus bottle of whiskey or gin for the same price.
With DJ Zinhle breaking the waters, Da capo, Sjava, Nasty C, De Mthuda and many more are set to render their services in Zimbabwe for the same price — R100 this festive season.
This has become the preferred price for shows in Bulawayo. Where there is a gig, you can bet your last dollar that you will have to part with R100 to dance all night long. If you want the wise waters in the form of gin, brandy and whisky the price for one ranges from R100 going up.
Export/ Duty-free alcohol from neighbouring countries, Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa are the in-thing this year, with most revellers claiming not to afford alcohol sold in liquor-shops anymore.
“Who doesn’t want to buy Gordon’s London dry gin, VAT 69 Scottish whiskey, Best, Viceroy and Klipdrift for only R100 and Jameson for R300?” asked one dealer who identified himself as Keith.
“In almost every corner where there is an Ex-Japan car parked, the chances of finding a liquor dealer there are very high, we now trade in cars so that we can easily evade the cops,” he added.
R100 liquor dealers have been making a killing outside shows whose promoters sell alcohol at exorbitant prices.
The liquor black market has been active for over five years now, operating at low-key but in 2019, it has boomed with a lot of hustlers joining the trade.
In 2016, KWV brandy was sold for US$8 on the streets, whereas in liquor stores it was us$12.
“I have made my fortunes through selling alcohol and now I have boys out there on the streets. My business is successful although the competition has become stiff with many dealers now interested in this business,” said one dealer who has been in the game for over four years now.
“A box of VAT 69 costs R820 and transport from Musina to here is R30 per box, if you do the math when selling 12 units each at R100, I will be profiting about R350 to R400,” he added.
Black market R100 deals have made it easier for people to burn their local currency to Rand or US dollar, so as to buy alcohol at a far much cheaper price from retail shops.
One observer identified as Wayne asked why is it that all of a sudden after the price increase in shops, people are then introduced to these cheap whiskeys and gins.
“The quality of the branding of these bottles are totally different from the original liquor bottles and also sometimes we get to buy a bottle of Jameson only to find out that the contents taste exactly like VAT 69,” he said.
Online Reporter