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Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ), will starting today, launch a blitz to monitor the compliance by shops of Government directive to revert to old prices, an official has said.

Prices of basic commodities sky-rocketed last week in a move that President Mugabe roundly condemned. Addressing a workshop organised by Nestle Zimbabwe in Gweru last Friday, CCZ Midlands regional officer Mrs Chiedza Chikumbirike said following a directive by Government on shops to revert to their old prices, they will be descending on them to see if they have complied.

“Government has said shops should revert to old prices following a price madness that gripped the nation last week. We will be having a blitz starting Monday (today) to make sure that there is compliance,” she said. She said those who would be found on the wrong side of the law would be prosecuted. Mrs Chikumbirike said the organisation has also started campaigns to increase awareness of consumers’ rights that they have the power to reject goods sold at inflated prices.

“We want to remind the consumers of their rights. They should not buy goods whose prices are not standardised,” she said. Mrs Chikumbirike urged consumers not to buy goods on black market.

“We should also consider the health implications of buying goods from black market. Consumers should buy from registered dealers so that if they encounter a problem with the product, they can go back to the dealer and lodge a complaint. This is very difficult when one buys on the black market,” she said. Speaking at the same function, Mr Kepie Manyongo also from CCZ said consumers should desist from hoarding. He said hoarding gave the retailers the leeway to inflate prices.

“Consumers should not be drawn into impulse buying. By hoarding goods, they give the retailers a chance to inflate prices because once they see their products being bought in large quantities like what happened with the cooking oil, they inflate prices,” he said. Consumers were thrown into panic mode last week following fake reports of impending inflation were circulated on social media. President Mugabe, blasted the economic saboteurs who caused the unjust price hikes.