THE price of sugar has increased by about 18% to $2,25 per
2 kg pack over the past few days due to rising costs of production as well as
cost of money, NewsDay has established.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CRZ) president Denford
Mutashu said the sugar price increase was unwelcome but inevitable under the
current spiralling foreign currency shortage environment.
“The price increase in sugar has been attributed to rising
costs of production, packaging costs, producer costs and cost of money as
defined by the current exponential forex parallel market rates that have
skyrocketed and shot through the 80% cap,” he said.
“In a survey carried by CZR, the retail price of sugar has
moved up from average $1,90 per 2kg to the current $2,25 per 2kg. The wholesale
prices average $20,50 per 20kg, up from $18,60 per carton.”
A snap survey conducted by NewsDay indeed confirmed the
increment in the wholesale and retail prices of sugar.
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe Matabeleland regional manager
Comfort Muchekeza said the increases, could have been necessitated by the
forthcoming elections as well as civil servants salary increment.
“We are moving back to the old days whereby each time when
government would announce salary increase for civil servants, prices of basic
commodities would also increase,” he said.
“Whilst we agree that there should be price adjustments, I
don’t think they should go beyond 10%. We have never witnessed anything like
that since dollarisation. As such, the increases are uncalled for.”
Muchekeza said some of the businesses were pushing
political agendas for certain politicians.
“We have also realised that during election period, some
businesses usually increase prices to sabotage other political parties.
Businesses should remain apolitical. They should not use consumers to fight for
them,” he said. Newsday
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