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Dumisani Nsingo and Clinton Moyo, Sunday News Reporters
THE Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has called on the Government to revive the price control inspectorate under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to curb the wanton price increase madness which have continued unabated.
CCZ manager Mrs Rosemary Siyachitema said consumers continue to suffer from the rampant price increases of basic commodities by some unscrupulous retailers and it seems there is no solution to the quandary.
“The price increases situation is very bad and I think it’s high time the Ministry of Industry and Commerce puts inspectors on the ground.
“The Ministry used to have Price Control Inspectors and that department is still there but it’s not effective.
“It should be noted that without that in place the situation is unlikely to change,” said Mrs Siyachitema.
The price of basic commodities and many other things continues to go up despite spirited attempts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new administration to instil confidence in the economy.
Mrs Siyachitemba said the Price Control Inspectors should be in a position to monitor and report any unwarranted price increase to the Ministry and ensure corrective action is taken against perpetrators.
“These inspectors are the ones that should be on the ground and inspecting prices because any form of dialogue seems to have failed. In actual fact the situation is getting worse with prices increasing three folds up.
“The Standard Association of Zimbabwe has the same inspectors that check on quality,” said Mrs Siyachitema.
Contacted for a comment the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president Mr Denford Mutashu said a number of retailers had started reducing their prices.
“As the CZR we have taken heed of the call by President Mnangagwa to avert the wanton increase of prices. We are happy that some players have reduced the prices of both basic and non-basic goods,” he said.
Mr Mutashu said there was a need to scrutinise the pricing system across the entire supply chain.
“We are working on stabilising the prices but we are not only looking at retailers, we are also looking at the whole value chain.
“But if you check for the past two days there had been a reduction of prices probably due to the Christmas promotions,” he said.
The President has on numerous occasions called on the business community to desist from wanton price increases that takes away consumer and investor confidence in the economy and his development trajectory.
He has urged discipline and accountability on the part of business while emphasising his Government’s desire to embrace and work together to create a more enabling environment that boosts the country’s chances as a suitable investment destination.
Efforts to get a comment on the issue from Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Mike Bimha were fruitless.
Online Reporter