Jennifer Dube
11 October 2008
Zimbabweans should not expect to buy imported goods at prices similar to those prevailing in other countries, National Incomes and Pricing Commission (NIPC) chairman Goodwills Masimirembwa has said.
In an interview with Standardbusiness last week, Masimirembwa said unlike other countries, Zimbabwe was not manufacturing the goods hence it was inevitable for them to be more expensive.
"Those goods are going to be more expensive here because of transport costs and other mark-ups being factored in the price," Masimirembwa said. "Consumers should be grateful that instead of travelling to other countries, they are now able to buy these goods locally."
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor, Gideon Gono, recently licensed some businesses to sell imported goods in foreign currency. Under the scheme, businesses effect a 30% mark-up on the original price.
But some consumers were last week expressing disappointment over the scheme, saying the prices were more expensive compared to those prevailing in South Africa and Botswana among other countries in the region.
"At US$19, a 20kg bag of Roller Meal is just too expensive even after adding the 30% mark-up," one female shopper said. "That is more than R100 and in South Africa; I can buy at least three bags with that much or even buy two weeks' groceries."
Others said at US$5, a two-litre bottle of Mazoe Orange crush is more expensive compared to the same product being exported from Zimbabwe and sold at R8 in South Africa.
Shoppers also complained about prices of such things as cooking oil, rice and soap, which they said were astronomical if compared to prices both in Botswana and South Africa.
"But I think it is too early to say the goods are expensive because we only got started," Masimirembwa said. "We want this thing to settle down before judging it."
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president Callisto Jokonya said his organisation was happy with the programme.
"We are still happy with the programme and would like to advise consumers not to worry about the starting point," Jokonya said. "When shops start restocking, things will be okay and prices will come down eventually."
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 Zimbabwe Standard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
