Mazoe War in UK: Businessman Insists He Has Monopoly, Warns Competitors to “Stay Out”

Mazoe War Erupts! UK Businessman Claims Monopoly on Zimbabwean Goods

Adamski did not hold back on expressing his thoughts on potential competitors and even government-backed efforts to widen the market.

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“I Hold a Monopoly”

Lurie’s message on X left little to the imagination as he detailed the extent of his influence in the UK Zimbabwean goods market.

He warned competitors that he and his associates had a “stranglehold” on the supply of these products and that newcomers would be up against formidable challenges.

In his own words, Adamski stated,

“I hold a monopoly on the market, and no matter how much the embassy or some guy wants to try to convince you to invest, you will fail. We have been doing this for years and know exactly how it works.”

According to Adamski, he was approached by the Zimbabwean embassy to discuss a potential expansion of Zimbabwean goods in the UK.

However, he dismissed the embassy’s approach and declined to participate in their discussions.

“A few months back, I was called by the embassy to arrange a meeting about Zimbabwean goods. I fobbed them off,” he explained. “They then roped in another businessman to go see them. I told him they’re a bunch of idiots and can go hang.”

The businessman claims that those working in the embassy are pushing to bring Zimbabwean goods into the UK without realising the complexities of the market.

“They actually believe they can get someone here in the UK to be the sole distributor for Mazoe,” Adamski wrote. “Well, all I can say is those fingers will get burnt because the pie is hot.”

The Battle for Mazoe: Chin’ono Responds

Adamski’s fiery message seemed aimed at journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, who recently announced that Zimbabwean favourites like Mazoe and Cerevita would soon be widely available in the UK at lower prices.

In his post, Chin’ono shared his dream of making Zimbabwean products as iconic and accessible in the UK as global brands.

Chin’ono explained,

“To me, these two products represent part of our identity as Zimbabweans. They will be coming to Britain at a lower cost than ever before, and we should ensure they reach beyond our Southern African community in Britain, aiming to make them as iconic as Coke or KFC are globally.”

In a follow-up response to Adamski’s post, Chin’ono defended his vision, pointing out that he intended to make Zimbabwean products accessible to a broader audience.

“Whenever I visit different countries, I look for opportunities and share them with Zimbabweans on my social media platforms,” he wrote. “I have always supported Zim businesses both at home and abroad without taking a cent, because it is simply my nature to want to see others do well.”

Chin’ono added that he wants Zimbabwean products like Mazoe to be affordable and available to everyone, not just niche markets or select suppliers.

“My target market is the locals, and reaching them requires hard work, but it is hard work I am prepared to put in. I believe there is more money to be made by making Zimbabwean and African products accessible to locals in foreign countries than by only targeting the Zim and African market.”

“It’s a Cutthroat Industry”

Adamski warned that newcomers could lose money if they attempted to enter the market. He elaborated on his strategy to control prices and deter competition, sharing,

“Ask the last six people who tried to enter the market over the past five years what happened to them…we will soak up your first container so you think you’ve done well. The moment your second container is on the water, we will dump your first container on the market.”

He was unapologetic about his approach, saying,

“We know how it works, and nobody can get in our way.”

He added that even multinational companies prefer working with him due to his established market presence.

“Coca-Cola owns Schweppes, and they would never drop the likes of us who supply the majority of the UK, for someone who doesn’t have a market at all,” he asserted. “You can have one million followers and will fail. We will make sure of that. We control the market.”

His message also contained a direct warning to Chin’ono, advising him to reconsider his plans.

“Consider this a friendly warning, Mr Chin’ono! This is our turf, and you will lose a lot of money,” he said.

Social Media Reacts: “Gatekeeping on Steroids”

Adamski’s post quickly went viral on X, sparking both outrage and amusement. Many criticised his tone and his admission of anti-competitive tactics. Some even tagged the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, urging them to review his statements for potential anti-competitive behaviour.

One user, Edson (@king_nashe), wrote,

“Please review this post for potential anti-competitive conduct. The author openly describes strategies to block new entrants, control prices, and deter competition in the UK market. This behaviour violates UK competition laws.”

Another user, Fadzi wemaLEGO (@ndinifadzi), commented,

“All of this so that you folks keep selling Mazowe at $18 a bottle? That market needs to be opened all the way up!”

In response to Adamski’s “friendly warning,” user Tendai Joe (@Tendaijoe) remarked,

“Friendly warning? This sounds more like gatekeeping on steroids! Since when does importing Mazoe become a cutthroat turf war? Markets evolve, and there’s room for everyone who wants to bring something fresh to the table.”

Others noted the irony in Adamski’s rhetoric, with Bloggo Jones (@BloggoJones) stating,

“Trying to keep Mazoe at almost $20 a bottle is madness! You’re also trying to hide behind black folk like some revolutionary, but you’re lining your own pockets? Peak ‘Nuevo-Rhody’ behaviour!”

The online community remains divided, with some supporting Adamski’s stance as protecting Zimbabwean businesses abroad, while others see his tactics as self-serving and a hindrance to market diversity.