BEVERAGE BATTLE: Delta Beverages in Court Over "Worms vs. Maggots" Soft Drink Dispute

HARARE — A 34-year-old Harare man has taken legal action against Delta Beverages, claiming he discovered repulsive foreign objects in a 300ml bottle of Coca-Cola. The trial, which has drawn significant public interest, hinges on a bizarre dispute over whether the objects found were worms, maggots, or a harmless byproduct of the manufacturing process.

The complainant, Shepherd Mukonomera, told the court that on October 19, 2023, he purchased the soft drink from a vendor, Violet Musandukwa, along Mbuya Nehanda Street in Harare.

• Mukonomera allegedly consumed about a quarter of the bottle before noticing "unknown objects" inside.

• During cross-examination, he graphically described spitting out what he believed to be worms after drinking the soda.

• He immediately filed a police report, which led to the arrest of both the vendor and Delta Beverages, represented in court by Chenai J. Chawafambira.

The defense for Delta Beverages has challenged Mukonomera’s "worm" description, introducing conflicting forensic evidence.

• Delta’s legal team argued that a visual inspection conducted at a government laboratory initially identified the objects as maggots, not worms.

• However, a subsequent scientific test yielded a completely different result, identifying the particles as starch.

Both Musandukwa and Delta Beverages are facing charges of contravening the Public Health Act.

Harare Magistrate Lisa Mutendereki has postponed the case to May 18, 2026, for the continuation of the trial. The remaining contents of the bottle, which were sent to the forensic laboratory for examination, will remain a central piece of evidence as the court attempts to reconcile the conflicting test reports. The case highlights the ongoing scrutiny of quality control standards within Zimbabwe's food and beverage industry and the potential legal liabilities faced by major manufacturers under public health legislation.

Delta Beverages Coca-Cola lawsuit