The government has condemned the recent prices increases, warning the “unscrupulous businesspeople” that investigations into the matter are already underway.
Speaking during a post Cabinet media briefing in Harare on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said:
Cabinet takes exception to the recent unwarranted hikes in prices of goods and services by unscrupulous businesspeople.
Government would like to inform the nation that investigations into the matter are currently underway and that Government will leave no stone unturned until it brings the culprits to book.
Earlier this month industrialists blamed the price increases on the general increase in rates and fees since October last year.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president Henry Ruzvidzo said the fact that council rates, tollgates fees, electricity tariffs, and fuel prices have all been going up means consumers will naturally see general price increases. He said:
… we had price increases for electricity twice in October and November (last year); council rates went up, ZINARA rates went up, and electricity tariffs were adjusted (once) again.
I am not saying this everything that caused the price increases, but these factors contributed to the price increases.