Harare, Zimbabwe – Varun Beverages Zimbabwe, the local subsidiary of the Indian multinational giant, is at the center of a brewing industrial storm following allegations of serious labour violations and the systematic suppression of trade union activities.
The Beverages and Allied Products Workers Union of Zimbabwe (BAPWUZ) has officially escalated the matter, filing a report with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) after months of alleged stonewalling by the beverage manufacturer.
A Pattern of Avoidance
In a hard-hitting letter dated January 22, 2026, BAPWUZ Secretary-General Runesu Dzimiri detailed a frustrating timeline of attempts to engage the company. According to the union, the friction began on September 16, 2025, when officials attempted to submit membership forms and stop-order instructions to implement a check-off system as mandated by Section 54 of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01].
The union’s attempts to organize have reportedly been met with a wall of bureaucracy. The letter claims that staff at Varun Beverages—including a Public Relations Manager who refused to identify themselves—repeatedly declined to accept legal documents, citing the perpetual unavailability of the Human Resources Officer.
“The company… declined to accept the documents, claiming that the responsible officer, Ms/Mr N. Nhimba, was in a meeting,” the letter reads, noting that five follow-up attempts in 2025 were equally unsuccessful.
Allegations of “Labour Broking” and Inequality
Beyond the denial of union access, the union has raised the alarm over what they describe as a “precarious” employment structure. Insiders allege that while the company employs approximately 1,500 people, the vast majority are denied the security of permanent employment.
Shocking statistics provided by sources within the company suggest a stark disparity between local and foreign staff:
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90% of local employees are reportedly on fixed-term contracts.
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Only 10% of locals hold permanent positions.
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Conversely, 90% of foreign nationals associated with the firm enjoy permanent employment status.
“It is the Union’s firm view that Varun Beverages (Pvt) Ltd is violating provisions of the Labour Act, particularly those guaranteeing trade union rights, freedom of association, and the obligation to facilitate lawful trade union activities,” stated Dzimiri.
The contract structures are also under scrutiny, with general hands allegedly limited to three-month stints, operators to six months, and local junior managers to one-year terms. This “revolving door” policy, the union suspects, is a tactic used to keep workers in a state of constant vulnerability.
Alleged Victimization
The report further alleges that Varun Beverages has resorted to intimidation tactics to stifle dissent. Reports indicate that some employees who emerged as trade union leaders have seen their contracts terminated or not renewed—a move the union views as a direct retaliatory strike against freedom of association.
When reached for comment, Varun Beverages Human Resources Official, Allan Chigava, declined to address the specific allegations, instead referring all queries to the company’s legal representatives. However, contact details for the said legal counsel were not provided at the time of publication.
As the ZCTU takes up the mantle, the spotlight remains firmly on Varun Beverages, which has operated in Zimbabwe since 2018. For a company that holds exclusive distribution rights for major global brands, the allegations of “labour broking” and union-busting present a significant challenge to its corporate reputation in the Southern African region.
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