By Patience Rashai
In an effort to cushion the public from unjustified price increases, Government has initiated a price moratorium on food stuffs.
In a statement, the Vice President, who is also doubling as the Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19 Response, Kembo Mohadi said that the Government has seen it fit to institute a moratorium as prices of basic commodities have continued to sky rocket since the announcement of the national lockdown.
In a survey carried out by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the value of the consumer basket as at 7 February 2020 was ZWL$4,656 but as of 11 April 2020, the same amounted to ZWL$6,660,84.
“There was a general agreement amongst the multi-sectorial partners that the price increase, particularly during the lockdown, was speculative and unjustified.
“The multi sectorial stakeholders committed to a price moratorium to operate based on the prices which were applicable on the 25th of March,” said Mohadi.
The moratorium which is to be effected immediately is also applicable to all value chain players.
The VP explained that this decision had been arrived at by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce together with the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) after a multi-sectoral meeting with different stakeholders, (Confederation of Zimbabwean Retailers Association, National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe, Oil Expressers Association of Zimbabwe, National Foods and Zimbabwe Sugar Sales, among others) which will thus bind their operations.
Government has slammed greedy retailers for intending to profiteer from consumers by charging exorbitant prices, at the back of the instituted national lockdown which is already putting a strain on consumer’s pockets and economy at large. Products which have been placed under price control watch list include, cooking oil, mealie meal, flour, and sugar.
