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Zim consumer costs skyrocket
08/06/2006 12:22 - (SA)
Harare - The cost of Zimbabwe's monthly consumer basket has surged by a massive 19.5%, reports said on Thursday as the authorities angrily threatened to "take to task" retailers who have upped the price of bread.
An average family of six now needs Zim$49.1m (US$490) to cater for its most basic needs, up from Zim$41m (US$410) last month, according to the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ).
The increase is being blamed on water, electricity, transport, food and health cost hikes. Inflation is running at more than 1 000% and price hikes occur on a near-daily basis.
This week's unofficial bread price hike - up from Zim$85 000 (US$0.85) a loaf to more than Zim$130 000 (US$1.3) - has caused consternation to consumers, many of whom earn less than Zim$10m (US$100) a month.
Deputy Industry Minister Phineas Chihota told parliament on Wednesday that the government had not authorised the bread price hike.
"They (bakers and retailers) have not been authorised to adjust the price of bread," Chihota was quoted as saying in the state-owned Herald newspaper.
"Those who have done so will be taken to task."
Zimbabweans are having to live with the rapid devaluation of their money. Teachers and civil servants recently had their salaries more than tripled but even they now take home less than Zim$30m (US$300) and are still living below the poverty line.
The CCZ said consumers had received "huge" water bills after the state-run water authority hiked its tariffs at the beginning of May.
"The cost of vegetables continues to increase owing to the shortages of local products like onions and tomatoes," it added.
- Sapa-dpa
- SAPA
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