HARARE - As industry struggles to recover, the high cost of locally producing goods has pushed the cost of living up by 10 per cent and the breadbasket by 3 per cent, according to the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ).Rosemary Siyachitema, the executive director of CCZ, said the cost of food increased in January this year compared to December last year. CCZ said the total breadbasket for January 2010 cost US$520,53 compared to US$488,11 for December 2009.
Siyachitema attributed the increase to the festive season and the anticipation that teachers salaries would be put up. The disorder in the utilities institutions, such as the long periods of electricity load shedding, has lead to confusion of bills and ridiculously high charges that has pushed the cost of living high.
There is a need for capacity utilisation to be upgraded so that manufacturers have inputs that will enable production to improve. Due to small capacity unity cost of their goods it becomes high thus it leads to high cost of living, she said.
Prices are still high compared to the regional prices. Imported products dominate the local market, as the local industry is still under-producing. There is a national crisis when it comes to producing. The local producers cannot meet demand.
Post published in: Agriculture