Stephen Chadenga
From the 1970s, the Midlands legend brewery, Go Beer was in full swing. It was the people’s beer and a force to reckon as Gweru’s identity.
Go Beer was as source of pride, delivering jobs and supporting sorghum and maize farmers as well as filling council coffers.
For imbibers it was the tongue twisting tasty frothy traditional brew that ignited their weekend social lives and lighted their burial club meetings.
But in July 2014, the unexpected happened- drinkers woke up to devastating news that the city council’s once thriving beer concern and cash cow would be closed.
In the crumpling of the mighty beer empire, people lost their jobs and drinkers were left craving for their traditional brew.
During that time, councillors at Gweru City made a hard resolution at a full council meeting and announced that the liquor entity should shut down to pave way for investigations on allegations of mismanagement, resources plunder and corruption that were said to be affecting Go Beer operations.
“It was shocking and devastating news to us who loved our frothy and tasty traditional brew,”reminisces Simba Mazenge.
“That day was the beginning of successive years of missing our favourite brew. We were left hopeless.”
As it ceased operations the beer company was reeling under a US$2,6million debt and was failing to honour it’s obligations at the Local Authorities Pension Fund.
In 2016 workers at the beer establishment wrote a petition to council that they were “wallowing in abject poverty” since they had not been paid their dues backdated to 2012.
Between 2021 and 2024 a lot of promises were made by council officials to revive the beer firm but residents were sceptical.
“It’s a wild goose chase,”Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Association Trust director David Chikore said then.
Chikore pointed to the idle and derelict structures at the brewery which he said required business partners committed to injecting millions of United States dollars if the resuscitation was not to remain just a pipe dream.
Fortunately after a decade of closure council finally found a committed business partner, Crest Street Industries and injected US$2,7 million recapitalisation before resuming operations to supply the Midlands market just before Christmas 2024.
It was indeed a journey filled with joy in the 70s, frustrations along the way, hope and finally reality as Go Beer found its foot again.
Last year during the commissioning of the refurbished plant, Go Beer Chief Executive Officer, Edward Rusike was upbeat:
“We are excited to celebrate the re-opening of Go Beer Breweries after 10 years of closure. This milestone not only creates employment for locals but also generates revenue for the city’s upkeep and service delivery.”
The beer entity boss added: “The government’s support has provided a conducive environment for sustainable community development and we are proud to play our part in building the nation.”
Echoing similar sentiments Gweru mayor Martin Chivhoko said:
“The Go Beer investment will not only revitalise the brewery industry in the Midlands capital but also create jobs and stimulate economic growth.”
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube expressed optimism saying the resuscitation of the province’s “iconic” traditional beer brewery aligned with government’s economic trajectory, Vision 2030, of leaving no one and no place behind in attaining an upper middle economy.
“This project aligns with the New Dispensation’s call for local authorities to promote community empowerment, diversify revenue streams and establish a stable financial foundation to support quality, timely and accessible service delivery as we collectively march towards the attainment of the unstoppable Vision 2030.”