According to the latest report of the local authority, the Director of Health Services, Dr Zanele Hwalima said the local authority’s efforts to rein in the black market through arrests were fruitless because there were no deterrent fines Fines for vending remain as low as $250 000. A loaf of bread costs anything between $1.3 million and $1.5 million.
The fines are set by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. The Ministry has maintained a tight lid on fines and rates for local authorities resulting in the deterioration of service provision since they are always cash strapped.
Illegal vending is taking place in the central business district unabated amid shortages of basic commodities at the supermarkets and shops. Efforts to weed out the informal market through raids and arrests are fruitless because of the ridiculously low fines for the offenders, said Hwalima.
The informal market flourished after the controversial price slashes by the government last year which emptied shop and supermarket shelves.
 President Robert Mugabe, who blames businesses of conniving with the west to create a crisis in a bid to incite Zimbabweans to revolt, reacted to ever-rising inflation by launching a crackdown on business to reverse their prices by more than half.
President Robert Mugabe has said the controversial price blitz which has been accompanied by looting and spawned shortages of basic commodities will continue until sanity prevails’ in business.
Post published in: News