Consumers feel the pinch: CCZ
LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
Consumers are feeling the pinch of unrelenting price hikes of basic goods, eroding their income, the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has said.
The consumer watchdog said some retailers were taking advantage of the lockdown to hike prices of basic goods.
“The further tightening of the lockdown regulations has resulted in a decreased movement of consumers. Suppliers are also causing food insecurities through food supply chain distortions. This has caused some increase in most food prices in most retail shops,” CCZ said.
The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Denford Mutashu said: “Some retailers are capitalising on the current situation [lockdowns] to hike prices of goods and we don’t support that. But the suppliers are making the situation difficult for retailers.”
The unrelenting price hikes are now beyond the reach of many.
The cost of living as measured by the CCZ’s low income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six increased to ZWL$40 237.92 at the end of June 2021 from a May figure of ZWL$39 141.98, showing an increase of ZWL$1095.94 or 2.80%.
The food basket increased by ZWL$401.97 or 2.61% to ZWL$15 827.54 by end of June 2021 from ZWL$15 425.57 by end of May 2021 .
The price of detergents increased by ZWL$75.47 or 7.22% to ZWL$1121.38. from ZWL$1045.91.
“As CCZ, the increase in the total figure of the basket is attributed to the price increases especially on the basic food items, due to inflation; influence of the exchange rate, speculation by consumers(fuelling demand) and in exceptional cases the parallel market,” CCZ said.
The CCZ continues to encourage consumers to shop conscientiously and to always buy certified products.
Where the products are not certified, consumers exercise their right to information by carefully examining if the products they are purchasing are well labelled, packaged and provided with vital information which includes manufacturing expiry dates and ingredients used in the make-up of the products.
