COMRADES Beverages (Private) Limited has been fined a total of US$800 after pleading guilty to manufacturing and selling liquor without a licence and operating an unauthorised factory in Bulawayo.
The company, represented by its managing director, Langa Bright Moyo, was convicted by Bulawayo magistrate Themba Chimiso.
The court imposed a US$300 fine for selling liquor without a licence in contravention of Section 113(1)(a) of the Liquor Act.
Magistrate Chimiso merged the original first and third charges into a single count before fining the company a further US$500 for occupying and using an unauthorised factory and breaching environmental regulations governing the storage of hazardous substances.
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In passing sentence, the State urged the company to comply with all regulatory requirements to ensure it could continue operating lawfully.
Prosecutor Samuel Mpofu told the court that on June 10, police detectives acting on a tip-off conducted a compliance inspection at premises in Bulawayo’s city centre where the company was suspected of manufacturing alcohol.
After identifying themselves to Moyo, detectives inspected the premises and found that liquor was being produced at a site that was not registered and lacked the certification required to operate as a factory.
Investigations also established that the company was selling various alcoholic beverages in and around Bulawayo without the required liquor licence.
During the inspection, detectives recovered 96 bottles of Highlanders African Gin, 156 bottles of Kalahari African Gin and 85 unbranded bottles of liquor, as well as manufacturing equipment.
Police also seized 600 litres of ethanol that was being stored without the permits and storage certificates required by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the court heard.
The recovered liquor, ethanol and manufacturing equipment were seized as exhibits during the court proceedings.
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