Regional Human Capital Operations Manager – Human Capital x2 (Harare)

SAP Support Analyst (F1) – ICT: LEVEL 9 (Harare)

ABAP Developer: Level 9 (Harare)

Procurement Manager: D5 (Harare)

Financial Accountant (Harare)

Sales Consultant (Kadoma)

Cervical Cancer & Clinical Service Mentor Nurse

Laboratory Technician (Harare)

Spport Driver (Harare)

Food Security and Livelihoods Head of Department (Harare)

Accountant (Harare)

Accounting Assistants x3 (Harare)

Communications Intern (Harare)

Corporate Legal Counsel (Kamativi)

Company Secretary (Harare)

Marketing Manager (Harare)

Sales Manager (Harare)

Procurement Manager (D5)

Director Policy and Market Development (Harare)

Assistant Valuer Grade 7

Town Planner Grade 10

Till Operator x2 (Bindura)

Ambulance Technician (Bindura)

Business Development Manager

Intellectual Property Manager

Chief Research Officer (Bindura)

Teaching Assistant: Banking and Finance (Bindura)

Technical Assistant: Natural Resource Management (Bindura)

Administrator (Bindura)

Faculties Manager (Harare)

Staff Development Fellow: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology x4 (Harare)

Staff Development Fellow: Department of Construction & Civil Engineering (Harare)

Officer: Student Residential and Logistical Services (Harare)

Student Development Officers (Harare)

Information Manager (Harare)

Graphic Designer x2 (Harare)

Marketing Officer (Harare)

Technical/Copy Editor x2 (Harare)

Proofreader x2 (Harare)

Typesetter x2 (Harare)

Acquisitions Editors x2 (Harare)

General Hand (Harare)

Locum Pharmacists (Mutare & Ngezi)

Drivers x2 (Harare Campus)

Graphic Designer (Gweru)

Drivers (Harare Campus)

Artisan Supervisor – Fleet Maintenance (Gweru)

Transport and Logistics Officer - Tracking (Gweru)

SHEQ Intern/ Attaché (Bulawayo)

Nutrition Officer (Mutare)

Team Leader (Mutare)

Project Field Officer (Mutare)

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (Mutare)

Assistant Accountant-Retail (Harare)

Trainee Risk Officer (Harare)

Sales Manager (Bulawayo)

The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) says the new ZiG currency has brought more “challenges” for consumers than those they faced before its introduction.
The ZiG, short for Zimbabwe Gold, was launched on 5 April and succeeded the Zimbabwean dollar (ZWL), which had lost 80% of its value this year.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/business/article/200026667/zig-brought-more-misery-for-consumers-ccz">NewsDay</a>, CCZ chief executive officer Rosemary Mpofu said people are failing to use the ZiG outside the formal retail sector. She said:
<blockquote>
As the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, we were delighted when we heard that we are going to have a currency backed by gold reserves announced by the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
We were very excited because we heard the country had enough gold to back the new Zimbabwe Gold currency.
We very much believed that when the currency is backed by gold and other commodities, it would give more value to our currency.
With that being said, as consumers, we are facing several challenges, which have resulted in us failing to easily accept the new currency.
These challenges have greatly impacted the acceptance of the new local currency by consumers in the country.
It seems the new currency has brought us more challenges than those we faced before the introduction of the Zimbabwe Gold currency.
</blockquote>
Mpofu said kombi operators, who used to accept the bond notes, were not eager to accept the new currency and were doubling fares due to a shortage of change. She said:
<blockquote>
When boarding public transport on our everyday normal routes, we see that on the same route that we used to travel using US$0,50, we are being charged US$1 because of change challenges.
Sometimes we are forced to buy things that we do not want just for us not to leave our money with public transport operators. The same route that I used to travel using US$1, to and from, the price has doubled.
</blockquote>
Mpofu also highlighted that some traders and service providers such as schools and fuel service stations were rejecting the ZiG. She said:
<blockquote>
It was announced recently that consumers are now able to buy fuel in local currency and Zera announced the ZiG prices for fuel.
However, we have not seen any fuel station that is accepting ZiG in exchange for fuel.
We did a survey and also consulted with ZERA [Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority] and we discovered that so far, no fuel station is accepting ZiG.
So far, the only place we can use the ZiG currency is in the supermarkets. Why are the service providers rejecting the ZiG currency?
</blockquote>
Mpofu appealed to authorities to continue arresting illegal money changers and ensure that service providers and traders use the official exchange rate at all times.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

ZiG Brought More Challenges For Consumers - CCZ

Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) chief executive Rosemary Mpofu has challenged the Government to take the lead in accepting payment in Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) to promote market and consumer confidence in the currency.
Mpofu made the call when the Joint Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Investment Promotion, and Industry and Commerce was receiving oral evidence on the 2024 Monetary Policy Statement (MPS).
The MPS was announced on 05 April 2024 by the Central Bank Governor John Mushayavanhu. Said Mpofu (<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200025990/state-should-take-lead-in-using-zig">via NewsDay</a>):
<blockquote>
The council is of the view that all government departments, including the passport offices, fuel stations, the Vehicle Inspection Department and ZIMRA, among others should take the lead and demand payment for their services in the local currency, ZiGs.
This will not only help to boost confidence in the local currency but will send a clear signal to the region and globally that the ZiG is a real and acceptable currency and thus speed up its acceptance in the international markets.
</blockquote>
She urged officials to speed up the introduction of the ZiG notes into circulation, emphasizing that the delay in releasing the new currency posed difficulties for both businesses and consumers. Said Mpofu:
<blockquote>
There is also a need to shorten this lag period to avoid rejection of the new currency before it is introduced onto the market.
</blockquote>
Mpofu also said prices have gone up since the announcement of the 2024 Monetary Policy Statement, especially of mealie-meal and rice.
Civil servants, who received part of their April salaries in local currency, rushed to shops to spend all their ZiGs fearing that the currency could lose value as what happened to the RTGS. Added Mpofu:
<blockquote>
Under such circumstances, retailers often take advantage of the sudden increase in demand and tend to raise their prices though this usually happens only for a short period during that panic mode.
CCZ is, therefore, calling for the relevant authorities to closely monitor this abuse of consumers during this transition period.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor and the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and lnvestment Promotion, Mthuli Ncube, were expected to appear before the same committee.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCZ Challenges Government To Take The Lead In Using ZiG

The cost of the food basket for a family of six increased last month to ZWL$3.6 million from ZWL$2.9 per month, the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has revealed.
In a statement issued yesterday, CCZ director of corporate affairs Philimon Chereni said the monthly basket for a family of six had, however, gone down in US dollar terms to US$440.79 from US$495.04. Part of the statement read:
<blockquote>
As measured by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe’s low-income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six, the cost of living measured in the local currency increased by 22.66% from ZWL$2 958 460.70 to ZWL$3 628 944.20.
Among the top shakers and movers in the basket were cabbage, salt, tomatoes, onions and cooking oil which rose by 97.7%, 63.7%, 56.4%, 50.6% and 44.8% respectively.
This is partly attributed to the high demand for these products during the festive season.
In contrast, water and rates, washing powder transport and education recorded the least shakers, registering 8.5%, 5.3%, 4.6%, and 1.3%, respectively.
</blockquote>
Chereni said the depreciation of the Zimbabwe dollar is attributable to the relaxation of the foreign auction market exchange rate by the central bank in December 2023. He added:
<blockquote>
It should also be noted that most supermarkets have resorted to displaying their prices in US$ form as they are most stable compared to the local currency prices which frequently have to be changed to match the lateral market rate.
In US$ terms, the basket decreased by 10,96 % from US$495,04 to US$440,79 during the same period.
This paradox is attributed to the dual pricing system which CCZ noted in the market.
CCZ has noted with concern that some products in supermarkets are exclusively in US$ which disadvantages the ordinary consumer who may not be earning the US$ currency.
</blockquote>
In October last year, the Government enacted Statutory Instrument 218 of 2023 which extended the duration of the multicurrency regime from 2025 to 2030.
The gap between the official and parallel exchange rates continues to widen.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Monthly Family Basket Rises To ZWL$3.6 Million

The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) says a low-income urban family of six now needs just over $1 million a month to survive, up from $611 275 in April.
CCZ director Rosemary Mpofu said the cost of living rose by 62% between April and May in Zimbabwe dollar terms.
However, during the same period, the prices of goods and services in United States dollars went down by 31.4 %. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200012536/family-basket-shoots-to-1m">She said:</a>
<blockquote>
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe low-income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six stands currently at $1 015 962,61.
This is a sharp increase because the basket has shot from the month of April, where it was $611 275.
When we look at the basket as we measure it, we find out that the low-income earner is mainly earning in the Zimbabwean dollar.
But the cost of living has really increased from the April figure to the May figure and it has constituted a percentage increase of 62.2%.
The new analysis that we use in US$ has decreased by 31.4% so prices have increased in Zimbabwe dollar terms and yet in US$ have decreased by 31.4%.
</blockquote>
The astronomical rise in the cost of living follows a sharp fall in the value of the Zimbabwe dollar over the past few weeks.
Last month, the Zimbabwe dollar fell by nearly 60% on the official market.
On Tuesday this week, the local currency fell from US$1: ZWL$2 577 set by the central bank on 30 May 2023 to ZWL$3 673.
The latest statistics by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) indicate that the annual inflation rose by 11.3 percentage points from April to 86.5% in May.
However, Steve Hanke, a professor of Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins University, argues that Zimbabwe’s inflation is at 717%.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Family Basket Jumps To $1 Million Per Month - CCZ

The cost of living in Zimbabwe has gone up following a sharp rise in prices of nearly all basic grocery items this week.
Last week, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) announced that annual inflation slowed to 87.6% in March from 92.3% in February this year.
However, the Zimbabwe dollar continues to lose value against all major currencies at both the official and parallel markets.
On the RBZ auction system this week, the Zimbabwe dollar plunged to ZWL$944.71:US$1 from ZWL$671: US$1 in January this year.
According to <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/zimdollar-hits-new-low/">Business Times</a>, on the parallel market, the Zimbabwe dollar was this week trading between ZWL$1 600:US$1 and ZWL$1 700:US$1.
In an interview with Business Times on Wednesday, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe executive director Rosemary Mpofu said the cost of living has gone up. She said:
<blockquote>
The cost of living as measured by the CCZ’s low-income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six increased ZWL$489 831 by end of March from a figure of ZWL$441 036 by the end of February, showing an increase of ZWL$48 795.
The reasons for the increase varied from localised high inflationary pressures, exchange rate volatility, and external factors.
Even with smaller-denominated gold coins, trying to curb inflation amid a slump in the country’s currency, we still noticed a huge change in prices.
We see a lot of activity on the parallel market exchange rate which was a major factor in driving inflation.
In terms of the US$ basket, we also noticed a huge change as the basket moved to US$478.82 from US$507.67.
This was a huge increase and it is not good for the consumers.
</blockquote>
A survey by Business Times this week shows that the prices of basic grocery items have gone up:
<ul>
<li>2-litre bottle of cooking oil – from ZWL$3 649.99 to ZWL$4 749.99.</li>
<li>2 litre Mazoe drink – from ZWL$3 600 last week to ZWL$4 149.99</li>
<li>white bread – from ZWL$989 to ZWL$1 399.99</li>
<li>a kilogramme of beef – from ZWL$4132.99 last week to ZWL$6 899.99</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Cost Of Living Goes Up As Zimdollar Hits New Low

Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) Commissioner Rosemary Mpofu has been appointed substantive executive director of the consumer watchdog.
Mpofu takes over from the late Rosemary Siyachitema who died of COVID-19 in February 2021.
CCZ spokesperson, Chris Kamba, said Mpofu’s appointment is with effect from 1 December 2022.
A picture of Mpofu posted on the CCZ official Twitter page on Monday was captioned:
<blockquote>
The newly appointed Executive Director for the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe Commissioner Rosemary Mpofu.
</blockquote>
Mpofu will work closely with CCZ to ensure the proper implementation of the Consumer Protection Act.
Her role is to perform the duties of the chief executive officer, leading the strategic objectives of the CCZ team in its financial, human resources, consumer education, complaints handling, lobbying and advocacy, research and project development, marketing and legal functions. | <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/mpofu-appointed-consumer-council-of-zimbabwe-executive-director/">Chronicle</a>

Mpofu  Appointed Consumer Council of Zimbabwe Executive Director

The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has failed to calculate the price of the family food basket for the month of June due to incessant price increases.
In May, CCZ said a family of five required $120 000 a month to survive, but inflation climbed to 191.7% in June from 131.7% in May.
Speaking to NewsDay, CCZ spokesperson Christopher Kamba said the price of the family basket will be out probably by the end of this week. Said Kamba:
<blockquote>
We have not yet finalised the price of the family basket for this month because prices are ever-changing.
We are expecting to come up with the price of the family basket probably by the end of this week.
People are not in compliance with the market rate. People are using their own desired foreign currency exchange rates.
We have not seen much enforcement of the interbank rate. The laws are there, the policies are there, but enforcement is lacking.
</blockquote>
Last week, the Government gazetted Statutory Instrument 118A of 2022 which made the interbank exchange rate the sole exchange rate to be used in commercial and other transactions.
Under the law, retailers are prohibited from selling goods at exchange rates above 10% of the prevailing interbank rate, with those violating the ban liable to a fine of up to $20 million.
Meanwhile, Economist Sydick Muradzikwa suggested that there could be other reasons behind CCC’s failure to reveal the family food basket for June. He said:
<blockquote>
Without the family basket, it becomes difficult for trade unions and the Apex Council to advocate for adequate wages or poverty-datum line wages with quantitative evidence.
The failure by the CCZ to cost the family basket is not a result of their incompetence; rather it could be a calculated nefarious agenda by government authorities to avoid the calculation and publication of the family basket for the month of June.
Clearly, it is part of security measures to contain disgruntlement among civil servants and a series of strikes that are currently looming.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/07/consumer-basket-now-incalculable-ccz/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Family Food Basket Now Incalculable - CCZ

The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has condemned recent price increases which it says have eroded consumers’ buying power.
A survey by The Zimbabwe Independent has shown that prices increased by about 30% during the first week of April.
The majority of businesses set their prices based on the parallel market rates which currently range between ZWL$280 and ZWL$300 to US$1. The official rate stands at US$1:ZWL$145.
This development has pushed households into extreme poverty as workers’ salaries are being eroded by inflation which is now 72.7%.
In an interview with The Zimbabwe Independent, CCZ public relations officer Christopher Kamba said the economic challenges facing the country and the war in Ukraine do not justify the price increases. Said Kamba:
<blockquote>
We are concerned about incessant price increases which have eroded the buying power of consumers.
While we appreciate the challenges the economy is facing and other external factors like the current global dynamics, including disturbances in Ukraine which were expected to result in spillover effects on domestic prices, service providers have taken advantage of the situation to increase prices.
Even those who benefit from the RBZ auction system are pricing in accordance with parallel market rates.
We urge the authorities to blacklist those who are abusing the auction system to ensure stability in the marketplace.
</blockquote>
According to The Zimbabwe Independent, mealie meal which cost ZW$1 159,99 (US$7,84) in March is now ZW$1 271,55 (US$8,59) and 2kg sugar, which was priced at ZW$565,99 (US$3,82) in March, now costs ZW$629.99 (US$4,26).
Other products whose prices have been increased sharply include cooking oil, which cost ZW$989,99 (US$6,69) in March, is now ZW$1 179,99 (US$7,97) and beef was ZW$1 199,90 (US$8,11) is now costs ZW$1 329,90 (US$9). A loaf of bread, which was going for ZW$239,99 (US$1,62) last month, now costs ZW$273,99 (US$1,85).
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2022/04/08/prices-run-riot/">The Zimbabwe Independent</a></h4>

Consumer Watchdog 'Concerned' Over Incessant Price Increases

The family basket for a low-income earner for a family of six increased by 25.19% in December 2021, from November 2021, the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has said.
The CCZ said a family of six now requires ZWL$72 967 to meet their basic needs, up from ZWL$58 284 recorded in the month of November 2021. CCZ said:
<blockquote>
The family basket for a low-income earner for a family of six as measured by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe increased from ZWL$58 284 recorded in the month of November 2021 to ZWL$72 967 indicating an increase of 25.19%.
</blockquote>
CCZ attributed the astronomical price increases partly to market speculation among other factors.
The current cost of living means that a family of six now requires US$363 using the current parallel market exchange rates to meet their monthly requirements.
When using the official exchange rate that was last announced on 14 December 2021, the figure is a whopping US$672.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/breadbasket-shoots-to-zw73k/">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Family Basket Of Six Rises To $72 967 Per Month

A wave of price increases of groceries a few days before Christmas has dampened the festive mood, with members of the public lamenting the reduction of their purchasing power.
Over the past week, several shops including retail chains and major supermarkets have hiked the prices of mealie-meal, cooking oil, sugar, meat, rice, fish and potatoes among others.
Businesses claim the price increases were triggered by the depreciating Zimbabwe dollar against the United States dollar on the parallel market.
A snap survey by Chronicle of prices in shops within the Bulawayo Central Business District showed that a 2kg packet of chicken which used to sell for an average of $1 000 now sells for between $1 200 and $1 300.
A kilogramme of fresh kapenta (sardine) increased to an average of $500 for a kilogramme in most retail outlets.
The survey also showed that a two-litre Coke has increased to around $309 from $250 while a two-litre bottle of cooking oil has risen from $500 to $700.
One shopper, Primrose Hadebe, a teacher said they have not enjoyed their bonuses that were paid in foreign currency owing to the “price hike madness”. She said:
<blockquote>
Prices of most commodities have gone up. We got paid our bonuses in forex but we have not enjoyed the cushioning because of the price hike madness we are witnessing.
In some cases, prices have more than doubled compared to last month.
</blockquote>
The Government paid civil servants their bonuses in United States dollars in November to cushion them against rising inflation.
Another teacher, Marie Ncube from Mkoba 9 suburb in Gweru, implored the Government to intervene and stop the price hikes. She said:
<blockquote>
I am a teacher and have just withdrawn my forex bonus but I can only buy very little because of the exorbitant prices in both local currency and forex.
Only two weeks ago the bread price was $150 but now it’s $160. This is just one of the many food items whose price has been increased.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president Denford Mutashu attributed the prices increases to the weakening Zimbabwe dollar against the United States dollar. Said Mutashu:
<blockquote>
The increases are directly related to the continued firming of the United States dollar against the local currency on the parallel market.
</blockquote>
He urged consumers to avoid panic buying and instead take their time to compare prices so that they get the best bargains.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce president Tinashe Manzungu told Chronicle that price increases will likely push up inflation and cut consumer spending.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima said there was a need to stabilise the exchange rate so that salaries are not eroded.
He noted that even if salaries are raised in Zimbabwe dollar terms, they will be eroded by exchange rate fluctuations.
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) said the energy price increase had a ripple effect on prices as it directly feeds into rising food and transport costs.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/price-hikes-dampen-festive-mood/">Chronicle</a></h4>

Shops Hike Prices Ahead Of Christmas

Consumers will not celebrate a slight fall in the prices of basic commodities over the past few weeks as they were already way too high, a consumer rights watchdog has said.
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) executive director Rosemary Siyachitema said they want prices to continue to fall;
<blockquote>We need to keep on tracking. Prices have declined but it is not enough. Some prices were too high and they are still high even if there is a reduction so it is not yet enough but we want a trend that prices continue to fall.</blockquote>
A report by the CCZ indicates that the cost of a monthly basket for a low-income urban family of six has largely been stable since June.
It said the monthly basket for July was at $14 256,98 and there was a steady rise for August to $14 438.23.
A snap survey by The Herald this week revealed that a two-litre bottle of cooking oil, which was averaging $250 two months ago, has gone down to around $214 while sugar has eased to $212 from around $250.
The price of fuel in US dollars has also marginally declined with blend now retailing at US$1,18 from last month’s price of US$1,28.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/stability-of-prices-brings-relief/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Herald</a></h4>

Too Early To Celebrate Price 'Stability'

The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has applauded the government’s decision to freeze prices of essential goods at levels that were obtaining on March 25.
Business organisations, among them, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR), the Oil Expressers Association of Zimbabwe (OEAZ), the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), and the National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe (NBAZ) all said they supported the moratorium.
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe southern region manager Comfort Muchekeza said that the latest policy on price controls was different from the one adopted in the mid-2000s which caused mayhem in the economy. Muchekeza said:
<blockquote>Unlike in 2006-2007 where it was not negotiated, as the Government just came up with that decision, I understand even the business community, the manufacturers and retailers sat down and agreed on the pricing this time.
As we have been saying, there were no fundamentals that necessitated price increases save for speculation since the people know that we are in lockdown.</blockquote>
On Wednesday, Vice President Kembo Mohadi announced that prices of basic foodstuffs – including maize-meal, rice, cooking oil, sugar, salt, flour and bread — will revert to the levels of March 25, just before the lockdown.
The announcement followed a multi-sectoral stakeholders agreement on the price freeze and a Cabinet decision of April 21.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/consumers-on-price-freeze/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

Consumer Watchdog Backs 'Price Controls'

<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/POLAD_(Political_Actors_Dialogue)">POLAD</a> will this year engage industries to come up with reforms that are instrumental to reviving the ailing economy, Sunday News reports.
According to POLAD Economic Committee Chair, Mr Trust Chikohora:
<blockquote>As Polad, we decided that for the first quarter of 2020, our flagship event will be the Polad economic summit where we will bring together major stakeholders of economic development.
These are Confederations of Zimbabwe Industries (<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Confederation_of_Zimbabwe_Industries">CZI</a>), Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Congress_of_Trade_Unions">ZNCC</a>), Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Congress_of_Trade_Unions">(ZCTU</a>) Chamber of Mines, consumer bodies like Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ), development agencies like United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), international institutions like IMF, World Bank representatives and investor communities so that we can grapple with the question of the Zimbabwean economy,</blockquote>
<a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/01/10/polad-plans-to-achieve-these-goals-in-2020/">POLAD mapped their 2020 at the president’s farm last year</a> and the <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/01/12/polad-planning-an-all-stakeholders-economic-summit/">economic summit happens to be one of their agendas for 2020.</a>
More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/polad-economic-summit-on-the-cards/">Sunday News </a>

POLAD To Engage Industries On A Reform Fact Finding Mission

Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president, Denford Mutashu said that the association will not defend businesses that continue to sell goods in foreign currency after the government deemed the practice illegal.
Mutashu made the remarks following reports that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has dispatched teams to monitor that businesses are complying with the new regulations.
With reports abounding that there are some traders still openly charging for goods and services in foreign currency, Mutashu said:
<blockquote>Anyone found selling goods in forex, which is outlawed, is breaking the Exchange Control Act and laws of the country. As you may have heard from the President, Government will soon crack the whip as an association, we will not stand in the way.
… The pricing regime in the country has got to be investigated right through the value chain in view of the unjustified price increases obtaining across the general economy.</blockquote>
Prices of some goods have reportedly gone down marginally following the promulgation of Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 which reintroduced the Zimbabwe Dolar as the only medium of exchange in local transactions while banning the use of multi-currencies.
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe executive director Ms Rosemary Siyachitema expressed satisfaction with the fall of prices in some shops and hoped that the trend will continue. She said:
<blockquote>We are happy that there are changes being seen in formal shops but we expect prices to go down even further than that and we want to see the reduction of all prices, not certain prices.
Retailers were saying they are buying foreign currency from the black market at high rates but the black market is almost most dead so the prices must fall.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/rbz-unleashes-monitors/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sunday News</a></h4>

Retailers' Association Condemns Businesses Pricing Goods In Forex

The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has advised consumers against panic-buying following a sharp increase in the price of basic commodities triggered by an increase in the price of fuel on Tuesday.
CCZ chairman Philip Bvumbe opined that panic-buying will result in shortages of goods forcing manufacturers and retailers to raise prices. Said Bvume:
<blockquote>Last week, as you are aware, the parallel market rate went up to about 1:7 and all the goods in shops went up and there was panic buying.
What we are urging consumers is that they must not go on a rampage of panic buying. Suppliers and retailers have been trying to reduce their prices because of the demand which has been low for some time.
Let us be mindful that the more we have an artificial demand for products, the retailers and manufacturers will be justified to increase prices.
We encourage people not to go on a panic-buying spree.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/05/fuel-price-hike-triggers-mayhem/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Newsday</a></h4>

Consumers Advised Against Panic-buying

The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) said that it will be holding meetings with retailers across the country meant to deal with price distortions in the retail sector.
This was revealed by GMAZ ethics chairman Alvin Mparutsa in an interview with Newsday on Tuesday. He said:
<blockquote>Starting this week, this committee (Ethics Committee) and the GMAZ secretariat will be moving from towns to cities, holding meetings with retailers, explaining to them the objective of this initiative so that there is buy-in.
We will start by engaging Bulawayo retailers, followed by their Gweru counterparts before moving to Mutare and Masvingo, just to mention a few cities and towns.
Our major thrust will be to hear from retailers the challenges they might be facing that could be making it difficult for them to comply with the prices we agreed on for our products.
We are doing this so that we amicably move together and eradicate price distortions.</blockquote>
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) said that it fully supports the initiative. The organisation’s chairperson, Philip Bvumbe, hopes that the initiative will be successful as he is opposed to price controls which will result in empty shelves.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/05/gmaz-embarks-on-price-monitoring-exercise/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Newsday</a></h4>

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