HARARE (Zimbabwe Investor) - Following intermittent sugar shortages that have hit most parts of Zimbabwe, Star Africa Corporation has shut down its Bulawayo branch it has emerged.

This decision was reached early this week following a strategic review by the corporation’s management. The corporation cited working capital shortages, critical water shortages and chronic power outages among other reasons for closing down its branch.

Chief Operations Officer Mr Tendai Masawi explained that the corporation was left with no choice but to close the Bulawayo branch after noting that continual operation of this concern was not viable.

“These challenges have led to various constraints in the industry. For this reason we have decided to shut down our Bulawayo branch,” he said in an interview yesterday.

Sugar shortages have slowly begun to resurface as unscrupulous traders are now making a killing by charging high prices for the commodity.

A couple of shops that import sugar have limited stocks but are beginning to import more. The situation has been compounded by Hippo Refineries operating only one mill as the others are reported to have broken down.

Star Africa Corporation Limited, formerly Zimbabwe Sugar Refineries Ltd., is a Zimbabwe-based holding company that operates four divisions: food, industrial, property, wholesale and retail.

The Company functions through several subsidiaries, including Red Star Holdings Limited, which is a wholesale merchant; West Beverages (Private) Limited, which is engaged in beverages manufacturing; Sugar Industries (Proprietary) Limited, engaged in packaging and distribution of refined sugar, and Bluestar Transport (Private) Limited, engaged in haulage of bulk goods in Zimbabwe and throughout the region.