PRICES for goods in Masvingo are higher than those in the capital, Harare, despite the country’s first urban settlement being closer to South Africa where most of Zimbabwe’s imports come from, the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has said.
CCZ national chairperson Philip Bvumbe, speaking at engagement meeting with Masvingo consumers on Thursday last week held in conjunction with the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers, said he was shocked that prices in Masvingo were higher than in most cities.
“I checked the prices in Masvingo and realised that they are even higher than those in Harare. I was hoping in Masvingo the prices would be lower since it is nearer to South Africa. The breadbasket is even higher in Masvingo than cities such Mutare and Bulawayo,” Bvumbe said.
The CCZ, a lobby group which tracks the prices of goods on a monthly basis, has not been able to publish its consumer family basket report because of constantly changing prices
Retailers in Masvingo said they have additional transport costs when they bring locally-produced products from Harare and Bulawayo.
“As retailers in Masvingo, we do need assistance. We have limited milling in Masvingo and when we get products from say Bulawayo and Harare, most retailers add additional costs. If there were millers in Masvingo, it would assist us in pricing. We look at the cost element, that is, landing costs from suppliers in Bulawayo and Harare. We also have unavailability of stock as we get a limited range of stock than what we would require,” Andrew Chekani, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Masvingo chapter chairperson said.
Chekani, the general manager of N Richards, with 18 branches in the province said retailers need assistance from government so they may have a standard pricing model.
