Own Correspondent|Did you know that the Zimbabwean government is subsidising the price of beer in the country?

The Information Ministry Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana made the shocking revelation in a Twitter post when he explained that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, George Guvamatanga, questioned a meeting of Heads of Ministries, why the government was subsidising the “sin” beverage.

According to Mangwana, Guvamatanga hinted that the price was being subsidised for political gain as he called on the government to make unpopular decisions in the interest of bringing about economic development.

Said Guvamatanga: “Do you know that we subsidize beer? Why do we subsidize such things as beer & cakes. Politically unpopular decisions have to be made”

Other countries charge extra “sin taxes” on beer and cigarettes in order to try and make the products a bit unaffordable for average persons to discourage their consumption.

Mangwana reiterated on his Twitter that these are not direct subsidies for Delta Beverages’ products but procurement subsidies for ingredients used in the production of beer products.

Zimbabwe and South Africa are ranked first in Africa and third in the world as having the “riskiest” drinkers, with men and women in the country ranking among the top 10 heaviest drinkers in the continent.

A 2016 report ranks Zimbabwean men and women 6th and 7th respectively as Africa’s top drinkers.

According to the report, which quoted data obtained from the United Nations, Zimbabwe and its southern neighbour have the highest alcohol-attributable disease burdens in the world after Russia and Ukraine.

On a scale of one to five, Zimbabwe scored four points, the same points as South Africa, while Russia and Ukraine scored five points to rank first.