By Almot Maqolo.
HARARE, Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers Association (CZRA) president Denford Mutashu on Wednesday said further consultations and dialogue on the basic food price moratorium with government is still ongoing.
This comes at a time when prices of basic commodities within local supermarkets continue to increase in defiance of a government, business organisations price moratorium on basic goods. Prices skyrocketed since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Under the moratorium, prices of basic food items such as maize meal, rice, cooking oil, sugar, salt, flour and bread were supposed to revert to the March 25 levels.
The moratorium was announced by Vice President Kembo Mohadi who blamed the increases on “speculative practices”.
Mutashu said the price moratorium was a product of stakeholder engagement to promote responsible pricing and affordability.
“It is hinged on continued availability of the circled key essentials on the market. Value chain support is critical to ensure the moratorium does not become another version of price control,” he said.
“CZRA can confirm that further consultations and dialogue on the matter with government is alive. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has initiated a number of consultative platforms with the private sector and it’s encouraging.”
There is a lot of momentum on promoting local industries and businesses through the local content policy, he added.
The moratorium was meant to cushion consumers against high prices of goods, most of which went up during the lockdown.
Comments
About Author
