ling imported products. Furthermore, it would have been suicidal for government because there have been crippling shortages of basic commodities over the past few years and people had now turned to these imports. Even conventional businesses were now selling imported cooking oil and laundry soap.
However, the decision to reverse this move comes as cross boarder traders have already lost goods worth millions of dollars after they were seized by “price control crack teams.”
We also note that the CSC is now buying cattle at $12m or at a negotiated price. This is the price range that prevailed before the price blitz and what this basically means is that in the next few weeks we will see the price of beef going up, that is, if it is available in the butcheries after all.
The past month has seen a severe shortage of all basic commodities and where they are available, there are long winding queues. Workers are now being forced to spend valuable time moving from one queue to the other in search of basic commodities.
We urge government to come up with wholesome solutions to the country’s problems and involve relevant stakeholders in coming up with programmes of action.
Zimbabweans at large, and workers, are tired of living on the edge, waiting for the next piecemeal, fire fighting solution from government.
2 August 2007
Wellington Chibebe
SECRETARY GENERAL
Post published in: News