adminAs depicted by the consumer watchdog, the total food basket for a low-income urban earner for a family of six increased from US$540,80 in October 2011 to US$546,34 last month reflecting a 0,01 percent increase.
CCZ executive director Ms Rosemary Siyachitema said if benchmarked as from the September family basket of US$527,52 to US$546,34 in November, there was a huge increase of US$19 reflecting 0,04 percent, which is a vast increment to come from the pockets of already burdened consumers.
“As CCZ, we continue to closely monitor the situation as these minor changes will continually strain the consumer budgets that are already suffering,” she said.
In October, the food basket increased from US$158,18 to US$163,69 last month reflecting a 0,03 percent increase.
She said despite the marginal rise of the cost of living in percentage terms, this would negatively impact on many low-income urban earners.
Ms Siyachitema noted that the cost of living was mainly driven by beef shortages on the market.
As a result of the shortages, beef price rose by a staggering 85 percent.
The consumer watchdog blamed the rise of prices for some basic commodities to the recent increase in rates of electricity by Zesa and the impact of duty reinstatement on some basic commodities in the 2012 national budget.
“Since the re-introduction of duty on basic commodities, prices of basic goods are not stable even though there are no significant changes.
“The local products are mainly the ones that became exorbitant as competition from exports mainly from South Africa had been reduced due to reintroduction of duty,” she said.
Locally manufactured products are still not being produced and supplied at adequate levels resulting in them being uncompetitive with imported goods.
The consumer council encouraged the Buy Zimbabwe Campaign to facilitate improvement in quality of local products.
She said retailers might take advantage of people’s bonuses and hike prices, which was bad as people were hardly earning much to sustain their families.
The consumer watchdog advised retailers to desist from hiking prices willy-nilly as this was unlawful and abuse to consumers.
“We also want to see a downward movement of prices of basic commodities, especially now that the rand has weakened against the dollar.
“Retailers are quick to increase prices when the rand strengthens against the dollar and yet they ignore when it is the other way round.”
Consumers were urged to always seek a fair deal on the marketplace by ensuring that their rights are observed.
“Consumers should report any anomalies on the marketplace and should always be proactive and assert their rights at all times as it is their right to choose products and services at competitive prices with an assurance of quality,” she said.
Online Reporter