eBusiness Weekly
HARARE – The Zimbabwe government will not introduce price controls on basic goods and commodities, but will work with stakeholders to ensure prices remain stable, a top ruling Zanu PF party official said on Wednesday.
Prices of basic goods had risen sharply since the end of last year, resulting in government creating a committee led by Vice President General Constantino Chiwenga (Rtd) to engage industry and other stakeholders on the unjustified increases.
Addressing the media after a Zanu PF Politburo meeting, party spokesperson Simon Khaya-Moyo said following engagements with stakeholders, prices had begun to stabilise.
He cited fuel, whose prices came down following the removal of excise duty on fuel imports this month.
“We do not intend to temper with market pricing as this might cause unnecessary distortions in the economy,” he said.
“There has been some noticeable reductions of prices of some basic commodities but as the economy improves more reductions are expected.”
Khaya-Moyo said the VP Chiwenga led committee was then mandated to continue with its work and report to the politburo quarterly.
On the prevailing foreign currency shortages, Khaya Moyo said the politburo had recommended a multi-stakeholder approach to deal with the issue.
“The issue of foreign currency shortages must be viewed as a business mandate and not just the responsibility of government,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri told the politburo that despite the current dry spell, which might lead to a drought, the country was still food secure.
“The country is currently food secure although the country has been gripped by some drought. Irrigation equipment has been procured to alleviate the inadequate rainfall in order to increase crop productivity through provision of pivots, generators, transformers,” he said.
“Prolonged drought conditions are still a threat to grazing land and plans are underway to counteract this problem.”
The politburo also received a report from the party’s National Political Commissar Lieutenant General Rugeje (Rtd) on the state of the party and the voter registration exercise. – New Ziana
