Prices remain stable

Sunday Mail Reporter

PRICES of basic commodities have remained stable following robust policy measures instituted by fiscal and monetary authorities, the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) has said.

Also, the CPC continues to carry out enforcement measures for business owners to comply with the law and protect consumers from being short-changed.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail, CPC’s research and public affairs manager Mr Kudakwashe Mudereri said:

“The CPC has also noted with satisfaction that there has been a general decline in the price of goods and services, following robust policy measures undertaken by both the fiscal and monetary authorities . . .

Last week’s final Cabinet meeting noted that prices of most basic commodities like mealie meal had gone down by 27 percent.

These positive developments on price movements have been collaborated by the Zimbabwe Statistics Agency (ZimStat) figures, which show that the country’s annual consumer inflation dropped for a second consecutive month to 77,2 percent in August 2023, down from July’s 101,3 percent against the backdrop of a stronger Zimbabwe dollar.

As part of measures to ensure consumers get a fair deal in the market, the CPC pledged to continue penalising rogue retailers.

“The 37 complaints that were received over the period 21 to 25 August 2023 resulted in 18 businesses around Harare being issued with compliance notices and 10 being taken to court for prosecution, which was successfully done, where the offenders were made to pay fines.

“After Harare, the Consumer Protection Commission will be moving to Manicaland, so that every corner of the country is covered, in line with Government’s thrust of ‘leaving no one and no place behind’,” Mr Mudereri said.

He said violations by shop owners include selling expired products, failure to provide product labelling and failure to display prices on goods. Persistent defaulters risk suspension and revocation of their trading licences.

Most of the violations, the commission has noted, were being committed by small retailers in downtown Harare.

“In that regard, the Consumer Protection Commission has embarked on the door to awareness campaigns, educating the business community on their responsibilities to consumers as enshrined in the Consumer Protection Act,” he said.