HARARE
–
Zimbabwe’s
biggest
beverage
manufacturer,
Delta
Corporation,
has
shifted
the
spotlight
onto
the
country’s
growing
counterfeit
goods
market
as
it
fights
allegations
that
a
bottle
of
Coca-Cola
sold
in
Harare
was
contaminated
with
maggots.
The
trial
underway
before
magistrate
on
Thursday,
centres
on
claims
by
Harare
resident
Shepherd
Mukonomera
that
he
discovered
“unknown
foreign
objects”
inside
a
300ml
Coke
after
drinking
most
of
it.
According
to
court
papers,
Mukonomera
bought
the
soft
drink
from
a
street
vendor
at
Number
62
Mbuya
Nehanda
in
central
Harare
on
October
19,
2023.
“The
complainant
purchased
a
300ml
Coca
Cola
soft
drink…
whilst
drinking
the
soft
drink
after
reaching
about
a
quarter
he
then
saw
some
unknown
foreign
objects,”
the
State
outline
reads.
During
Thursday’s
hearing
the
complainant
described
the
particles
as
worms.
The
court
heard
that
a
government
laboratory
visually
identified
the
particles
as
maggots,
although
another
scientific
test
reportedly
concluded
the
substance
was
starch.
Delta
Beverages,
represented
by
Chenai
Chawafambira,
strongly
denied
the
drink
originated
from
its
production
line
and
argued
the
case
highlights
risks
posed
by
fake
products
circulating
on
the
market.
“The
market
is
flooded
with
counterfeit
goods,”
Delta
said
in
its
defence
outline.
The
company
added:
“There
is
nothing
on
record
to
prove
that
the
alleged
contaminated
product
was
produced
at
the
2nd
Accused’s
plant.”
Delta
further
argued
that
contamination
would
be
“physically
impossible”
within
its
production
systems,
describing
its
bottling
process
as
“highly
regulated,
automated
and
sealed”.
The
second
accused,
vendor
Violet
Musandukwa,
told
investigators
she
was
shocked
after
the
customer
raised
the
complaint.
“Upon
checking
the
drink,
I
saw
that
there
were
white
organisms
at
the
bottom
of
the
Coca-Cola
bottle,”
she
said.
Delta
also
challenged
the
scientific
findings,
arguing
that
“visual
inspection”
and
other
tests
relied
on
by
investigators
produced
“unconclusive
results”.
The
beverages
giant
has
since
requested
the
court
to
inspect
its
manufacturing
plant
as
part
of
its
defence.
Trial
continues
on
May
18.