having been in Zimbabwe for the last 2 weeks - and of course having MN often in my mind I took the opportunity to ask some of DH's (large) family about breastfeeding/weaning practices, and also had a long hard look at the formula milk on offer in the supermarkets. Thankfully my 'subject' matter was quite varied - visiting some 'wealthy' (well "ish") relatives in the towns as well as some living in pretty poor conditions - houses where 2 meals a day was good going.....
We travelled quite a long distance (about 1,500miles) through the country and visited lots of 'local' shops (the place where most rural people - the majority of the population - go to buy their shopping). There was no sign of any formula of any brand in any of those shops - and a Cousin out in Zvimba said she'd never seen it when her DC were younger.
Of all the tins of baby food I saw (and belive me I had a good nose - DH thought I'd lost the plot LOL) none of them had pictures of babies on at all (the chubby white babies shown on the tins when I was last out there were no longer there), the instructions on use were clearly marked in all 3 main languages. Interestingly if any of the tins were Nestle - I couldn't see it on the tins - without having a really close look (ie reading the tiny address/contact details on the tins). The tins were very small (about 1/3 of the size of standard tins here in the UK) and extremely expensive about Z$8-10 million (about £8-10).
Average length of breastfeeding is apparently about 6-12 months in the urban areas (info taken from one of DH's close cousins who's a Dr) - as mothers return to work leaving their children with the maids (and if I had a £ for every relative who was shocked that most people in the UK don't have maids I'd be a very rich woman LOL).
Weaning usually around 4-6 months - saw several little cousins happily making a mess (and eating) with their Sadza and Chicken.
Admittedly part of the 'early' weaning and stopping of breastfeeding is due to the very high incidence of HIV/AIDS out there - they reckong that 1 in 4 of the population is infection - but there's certainly no huge outcry if you give you baby a chicken drumstick to knaw on at 4 months old (even I didn't do that LOL).
Nestle - well - like I said didn't see much evidence of Nestle baby milk saw a few follow on milks - but again so expensive it wouldn't even occur to the majority of Zimbabweans to buy it because of the cost - they're still pretty much of the attitude that their ancestors were weaned onto cow/goat milk after breastfeeding so why not their own children. However there's LOTS of other Nestle products....
Cereals - you have a choice of Cardboard Branflakes or Cornflakes.........or slightly more appetising Nestle products - many of the chocolate bars are also Nestle.....but again not huge sales because a chocolate bar is now a luxury.
They do however have some very clever sponsorship to get their name seen and recognised......the only Game Show on the (one) TV channel is partly sponsored by them.....and it's a game show that gives away large sums of money on it's daily shows along with hampers.........often full of £50-100 worth of Nestle products (which in Zimbabwe is a lot of money)