Despite the government’s threats that companies should not retrench their employees or close shop, clothing retail giant, Edgars has closed one of its branches in Bulawayo and inside sources say that more others will be closed around the country due to viability problems caused by the price control exercise.
Leading supermarkets, virtually empty due to inability to re-stock, are said to have served their workers with retrenchment letters, while others have also been given notice of retrenchments before the end of the year.
Industry minister, Obert Mpofu, threatened an even tougher stance against manufacturers.
“The retailers are doing all they can but manufacturers are now the ones that are letting the nation down by refusing to produce. We have said it before that those companies that have financial problems should approach government for assistance but very few companies have done that. We are definitely going to look into that and come up with solutions. The economy should be revived,” he said but did not say how. – Bayethe Zitha
Post published in: News