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Kudakwashe Mhundwa
HARARE – Players in the Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector should capitalise on the current shortages of basic commodities that the country is facing to boost their supplies to major retailers in the country, Minister of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprise Development Sithembiso Nyoni has said.
This comes as the country`s country is experiencing unjustified hiking of prices of basic commodities and the shortage of certain goods.
Addressing delegates at an SME`s solution indaba held recently Minister Nyoni said SME producers must up their game in terms of supplying retailers and should desist from illegal price hikes.
“This engagement comes in the face of the current supply challenges being experienced in our nation. The past few weeks have been characterised by disappearance commodities from retail shops. This prevailing challenge has shown that we need more players in the manufacturing sector than before.
“The disappearance of commodities has created space and opportunities for SME`s who need to take up this space. I gave some players two weeks to say that their goods should be visible on the shelves and the pricing should be right,” said Minister Nyoni
This follows Government’s decision to scrap Statutory Instrument 122 of 2017 to allow people to import basic commodities saying it will halt the prevailing price hike madness.
The decision to amend SI-122 was reached by Cabinet recently to allow companies and individuals with offshore and free funds to import specified basic commodities that are in short supply due to the speculative behaviour of local retailers and panic buying by consumers.
Online Reporter