Magayiwe back in stores after shortage

By Khulile Thwala

Order has been restored for traditional beer lovers after an essential ingredient used to brew the beer has been restocked at selected stores around the country following a shortage.

According to Swaziland Milling, unmilled sorghum malt (magayiwe) was in short supply purportedly due to a shortage in neighbouring South Africa. Magayiwe is popularly used to concoct umcombotsi (traditional beer).

In an interview, a reliable source within Swaziland Milling disclosed that there was now a sufficient supply of the malt and consumers should feel free to visit their preferred outlet to purchase magayiwe.

A traditional beer brewer, who earns a living through selling umcombotsi Make Zenzile Malinga says this news was a much-needed relief, more especially because schools had opened and her two grandchildren were in high school this year.

“As much as the product is not popular in urban areas, we have several customers in the outskirts and rely on the profit generated from the fermented brew to make a living. It was disheartening to think we would not be able to make money in such a critical month seeing as schools were opening,” lamented Malinga.