
Goods that include rice, cooking oil, cereals, sugar,
washing powder, lotions, toiletries, instant noodles, snacks, sweets and juices
have been on an upward trajectory in retail outlets in Bulawayo while their
prices have been constant on the street.
A snap survey conducted by The Chronicle revealed that
prices have gone up by up to 50 percent.
A majority of residents said they now avoid retailers and
buy commodities from street vendors, whose prices were up to half of what is
charged by retailers.
They called on the Government to rein in retailers, who
they said were profiteering as there was no justification for the price
increases.
Mrs Nompumelelo Moyo said she was having a headache trying
to juggle her budget.
“I did a survey in three retail shops hoping to get better
prices but it’s the same story. Things are not balancing and they exceed my budget.
Last term I forced my child to go with instant porridge
because Cerevita — his choice of cereal — was expensive but now the price for
instant porridge is high as well but I cannot send him away without any
cereal,’’ she said.
Instant porridge has risen from an average of $2.50 to
$3.25 while Cerevita remains pegged at about $3.75.
The Chronicle noted that the price of a 2kg packet of local
Red Seal rice has risen from $2.50 to $2.90 while cooking oil has gone up from
around $3 to about $4.20.
Instant noodles went up to $5 from $4.20 while tomato sauce
now costs $1.35 from $1.10. Single ply tissue paper shot to $1.75 from an
average of $1 while Farai sanitary wear now costs an average of $1.
Jumbo snacks increased from $1.80 to $2.90. Arctic mints
increased from $3.20 to $4.29 while lolly pop sweets increased from $4.50 to
$5.30.
The price hikes have sparked outrage among parents who are
trying to balance paying bills, putting food on the table and preparations for
the new school term, especially those with children going to boarding schools.
Miss Lisa Mugabe said: “School opening days are hectic,
retailers increase prices forgetting that we have many expenses; school fees,
groceries and transport money to send children to school.’’
Mr Denis Parrot said: “Groceries are expensive and I am
stressed out trying to balance all the expenses. Where my child learns there is
only one visiting day per term. Imagine sending a child to school with little
or inadequate grocery. I have already been forced to remove some food items
from his grocery list.’’
Another parent, Mrs Linda Nare, said for some groceries she
preferred buying from vendors.
“I ended up buying snacks and juice from vendors because
shops were a non starter. At times like this you forget about quality and aim
for quantity and prices of goods,’’ she said.
Ms Lisca Ncube said the Government should protect consumers
from greedy businesspeople.
“When the economy normalises and people have found
alternative markets, the same retailers are the first to run to Government for
protection. When it suits them, they exploit consumers. Such unfairness has no
room under the new dispensation.
“The media should also investigate the building industry
where prices have been shooting up willy nilly but manufacturers claim they
last raised prices last year,” said Ms Ncube.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president Mr
Danford Mutashu said an increase of prices of basic commodities and other
products is looming in Zimbabwe as people are not yet certain of the future
economy.
“Usually when business people are not certain of the
political status of a country, they tend to panic and this leads to price
hikes. This is evident by cash commodification in the streets,” he said.
Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment