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Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Correspondent
THE Midlands Province has been hit by an acute shortage of Delta Beverages products, with wholesalers now going for nearly three weeks without stocks of soft drinks, mahewu and beer. Retailers and vendors said some of the firm’s products were now only available on the black market.

A survey conducted by this publication this week revealed that workers at Delta depots were now reportedly cashing in on the shortages by diverting deliveries to the black market.

When The Herald visited Delta depots in Gweru and Kwekwe, management said they last received deliveries about three weeks ago.

“It’s tough my brother, we have not received any deliveries for the past three weeks and clients have been coming to camp here.
“There is a serious shortage of all Delta products, but you can get in touch with our corporate communications manager for an official comment,” said an official at Kwekwe depot.

The situation was the same at Gokwe Depot where officials said they were not sure when they would receive the products.
“We don’t have even a single crate of 300ml soft drinks and we are not sure when we will be getting deliveries.”
Delta Beverages spokesperson Mrs Kethiwe Dhliwayo was not responding to calls yesterday.

Meanwhile, retailers who spoke to The Herald yesterday said they were now buying Delta products on the black market.
“What is surprising is that soft drinks and mahewu are now found on the black market. Those selling these products are demanding cash,” said Mr Arnold Shungu who runs grocery shops in Kwekwe.

Another retailer, Mrs Abigail Chipochangu said Government should deal with what she described as saboteurs who are starving the official market while flooding the black market in a bid to mop up cash.
“I think it’s a chain, which should be investigated.

“Why is it that these products are found on the black market and are being sold for cash?
“Government should intervene because we feel we are being fleeced,” she said.