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    Govt to maintain talks with errant retailers over prices

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    Harare, (New Ziana) – The government said on Tuesday it will keep dialoguing with retailers following mixed responses from the sector on the price moratorium announced last week.

    Government directed that prices of basic commodities be reverted to March 25th to ensure affordability by consumers during the Covi-19 lockdown period.

    The directive followed observations that most retailers, had speculatively hiked the prices of basic commodities.

    But Industry and Commerce Minister, Dr Sekai Nzenza said a survey by the ministry had shown that some retailers had reverted to old prices, while others had frozen at last week’s prices, while errant ones were still increasing the prices.

    “We can to an agreement (that price increases were hurting consumers), however, with all agreements you do not always get compliance,” she said.
    “The aim now is to get together and continuously engage because this agreement was done in good faith. We are basically saying we are in this journey of Covid-19 together, lets also consider what the impact on the consumer and at times it is an uphill battle but I believe that we are beginning to have a common understanding.”

    High demand for some basic products like subsidised mealie meal and sugar have seen most shops running out of stock, with the product being sold on the parallel market at more than double the official prices.

    Nzenza said shortages of some commodities were due to challenges in procuring raw materials as a result of lockdowns across the region aimed at curtailing spread of Covid-19.

    “We are listening to the challenges that are also being faced by the retailers relating to procurement of raw materials and shortages of foreign currency,” she said.

    “Be that as it may, we still need to have a dialogue in good faith.”

    In effecting the price moratorium, government had noted that the consumer basket, an average of goods an ordinary family required per month, had jumped from ZWL$4 656 in February to ZWL$6 660.84 by 11 April.
    New Ziana

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