WASHINGTON —
Prices of some basic commodities such as meat, mealie-meal and sugar have gone up by $1 following an increase of excise duty on fuel announced by the government last week.
Residents of Harare, Gweru, Bulawayo and Lupane Business Centre told VOA Studio 7 that the price of a 2 kilogram bag of roller meal has gone up from $6 to $7.
They say ration meat prices also went up Saturday from $4 to $6 a kilogram.
Lupane villager Kennie Mpofu said retailers are attributing the price increases to petrol prices which went from $1.50 to $1.59 cents a litre in some parts of the country.
“These shocking increases have driven away shoppers who can’t manage to buy what they want,” said Mpofu.
Director Rosemary Siyachitema of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe said the price increases will affect poor Zimbabweans currently living below the breadline of about $590 per month for an urban family of six.
“We always expect prices of basic commodities to go up whenever there are fuel price hikes,” said Siyachitema.
Residents of Harare, Gweru, Bulawayo and Lupane Business Centre told VOA Studio 7 that the price of a 2 kilogram bag of roller meal has gone up from $6 to $7.
They say ration meat prices also went up Saturday from $4 to $6 a kilogram.
Lupane villager Kennie Mpofu said retailers are attributing the price increases to petrol prices which went from $1.50 to $1.59 cents a litre in some parts of the country.
“These shocking increases have driven away shoppers who can’t manage to buy what they want,” said Mpofu.
Director Rosemary Siyachitema of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe said the price increases will affect poor Zimbabweans currently living below the breadline of about $590 per month for an urban family of six.
“We always expect prices of basic commodities to go up whenever there are fuel price hikes,” said Siyachitema.