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Zimbabwe beverages manufacturer, Schweppes has announced a 29 percent price increase on Mazoe drinks with immediate effect.
Products under the Schweppes brand will also increase the price.
No specific reasons have so far been made known to justify the increase in prices. However, market watchers have concluded that the increase is a result of the sugar tax that has been discussed as well as rising production costs.
The Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube initially set the surtax on sugar at US$0.022 per gram but later reduced it to US$0.001 for specified beverages. The Minister explained that this new tax is a response to concerns about the negative effects of consuming sugar, particularly in beverages.
New prices will be two-litre bottles of original Mazoe will now be US$4.50 from US$3.50
Commenting on X some Zimbabweans believe that the dollar increase is unjustified and driven by corporate greed.
Others have vowed to explore alternative options to Mazoe and other Schweppes favourites like Minute Maid. Some individuals predict that the price hike will be short-lived and anticipate a decrease within a week.
“Zimbabweans are greedy, now they are inflating the US dollar,” read some of the comments.
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