INGWEBU Breweries has opened talks with a Namibian town seeking to import its famous brands – Indlovu Shake-Shake and the Calabash.
Katima Mulilo, a Namibian town seeking to twin itself with Bulawayo, says it is prepared to spend part of its R268 million government grant on importing the opaque beer.
Officials from Katima Mulilo, including the town’s mayor, ended their two-day tour of Bulawayo on Tuesday.
The tour included a visit to Ingwebu, which is owned and operated by the Bulawayo City Council.
Katima Mulilo mayor John Likando said he was impressed by the quality of Ingwebu’s brew.
“Our government gave us R268 million to spend on capital projects this year and we hope some of it will be on the importation of the Ingwebu brew,” he said, speaking at a reception held at the Small City Hall on Tuesday.
Eustace Ntonda, the Tourism and Economic Development officer of Katima Mulilo, added: “Ingwebu can have a market in Katima. At the moment, we have unhealthy brews in the town, like Tombo, which makes imbibers have running tummies.
“People in Katima are starved for a hygienically produced traditional beer. Imports would really do well.”
Katima Mulilo, Ntonda said, was strategically positioned to ensure the growth of Ingwebu’s products. The town touches the borders of four countries -- Zambia, Zimbabwe Angola and Botswana.
If the deal succeeds, it would be a major boost for Bulawayo’s flagship beer maker. The City Council was recently forced to close its 16 beer halls, citing prohibitive operational costs and declining profits from Ingwebu.
BCC PRO Nesisa Mpofu said: “The interest shown by the Namibians presents a chance to help Bulawayo to grow by opening up new markets and investment opportunities.”