shloboe boe
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
GWERU is abuzz with anticipation as the iconic Go Beer, brewed by the Gweru City Council (GCC), prepares to re-enter the market with its popular 5-litre containers next month.
After a decade-long hiatus, the brewery recently sprang back to life, reintroducing its 2-litre bottles, much to the delight of residents during the festive season.
Now, with its sights set on even greater heights, Go Beer aims for an ambitious daily production of 120 000 litres, heralding a promising future for its loyal patrons.
The revival of Go Beer Breweries is a significant milestone for the GCC, which invested US$2,3 million in resuscitating the once-thriving enterprise. The brewery was previously a vital revenue source for the council before its closure in 2014 due to financial mismanagement and mounting debt.
GCC spokesperson, Ms Vimbai Chingwaramusee, confirmed plans to reintroduce the 5-litre containers, a favourite among customers.
“After the successful production and launch of the 2-litre packages, Go Beer is now working on introducing the 5-litre containers next month. The 5-litre package was immensely popular with clients,” she said.
The revival of Go Beer Breweries has been widely praised as a transformative step for Gweru’s economy.
Mr Cornelius Selipiwe, executive director of the Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association, commended the council for diversifying its revenue streams.
Mr Selipiwe noted that the residents’ association had long advocated for the council to pursue multiple income-generating projects, adding that the revival of the brewery is a step in the right direction.
“Beyond generating revenue for the local authority, the brewery is also creating employment opportunities for members of the community,” he said.
To support brewery operations, the council cultivated 23 hectares of winter wheat at the Go Beer Farm as part of an initiative to reduce production costs and ensure sustainability.
The revival of Go Beer Breweries represents a strategic move to diversify Gweru’s income sources. The brewery’s closure in 2014, attributed to financial mismanagement and a US$2,6 million debt, left a significant void in the city’s revenue streams. In the wake of its closure, the council re-purposed beer halls into revenue collection points for bill payments.
With the brewery’s reopening, these facilities may once again serve their original purpose, contributing to the city’s economic and social vibrancy.
The brewery’s history, however, has been fraught with financial struggles and mismanagement. Upon its closure, the council had invested over US$2 million to settle Go Beer’s creditors and employee retrenchment packages.
Equipment and livestock were auctioned to cover debts, and municipal police investigations into mismanagement were conducted, though no individuals were held accountable. The current revival effort seeks to learn from past mistakes, with the council actively exploring diversified revenue streams to reduce reliance on ratepayers.
