Bulawayo residents have called for Government controls as prices of basic commodities are now out of reach for the majority of citizens, wit...
Bulawayo residents have called for Government controls as prices of basic commodities are now out of reach for the majority of citizens, with retailers having adopted different foreign currency exchange rates.
For the past few weeks, prices of basic commodities have been skyrocketing, amid concerns that this is influenced by parallel market exchange rates and profiteering.
To cushion consumers from price shocks occasioned by geopolitical developments in Europe and local speculative behaviour, Government recently suspended duty on basic commodities including cooking oil, sugar and maize meal.
While the official US to Zimbabwe dollar rate is at US$1: $308,5, supermarkets such as Greens, Cover and Oceans have pegged their prices using rates of between US$1: $400/$450.
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| Basic Goods: Prices Gallop, Citizens Call for State Intervention |
While in the past, shoppers could just walk into any shop and buy groceries as there were hardly any price differences from one shop to another, the situation has changed due to pegging of prices using black market rates.
For example, products such as 1kg of powdered milk are sold from $1 500 up to $4 000 depending on the shop. At OK supermarket yesterday, the rate was pegged at US$1: $298 and at Zapalala it was US$1: $400; at Choppies US$1:$370 and at Greens US$1: $420.
Cover Supermarket situated along 12th Avenue extension between Fife Street and George Silundika has its products priced in US dollar and Rands only, although it accepts local currency at US$1 is to $450, the same as Oceans Supermarket.
OK and Choppies had the lowest prices for 2kg rice at just over $600 while Pick n Pay, Greens and Spar sold the same for $800.
The cheapest 2l of cooking oil was sold for $2 100 at Choppies while at shops such as Zapalala and Greens it cost $2 800. A 10kg pack of Amandla roller meal was the cheapest mealie-meal on the shelves as it was sold for $1 900 at most of the shops.
Members of the public expressed concern over the ever-increasing prices of basic commodities saying there is a need for Government to intervene. Residents said as prices of basic commodities are going up, salaries remain stagnant. - The Chronicle
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