OK boss arrested in Zim
12/07/2007 08:43  - (SA)  

Want to know more? Answerit can help.

Zim closes private abattoirs Price blitz: Cops set roadblocks Zim price blitz 'here to stay' Zim suppliers go into hiding Zim veers closer to brink Tsvangirai fears chaos

Zimbabwe Special Report  Latest Zimbabwe Stories

Johannesburg - OK chief executive Willard Zireva has been arrested on 41 charges arising from accusations that two of the retail chain's supermarkets failed to freeze prices at June 18 levels, reports the Zimbabwe Herald.

Zireva's arrest came as police in Harare impounded 49 commuter omnibuses and arrested their drivers for overcharging.

Commuter fares had been pegged at Z$10 000 for journeys under 10km, Z$15 000 for distances of between 10.1km-20km and Z$20 000 for up to 30km.

Zireva was arrested on allegations that some of his supermarkets had not reduced prices to June 18 levels. Police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka said he was picked up from his Glen Lorne home.

1 768 business people arrested

Zireva - who faces 41 counts of overcharging - was expected to appear in court on Thursday.

The charges arised from investigations at OK supermarkets in Mbare and Glen Norah, but police were spreading the net to OK supermarkets countrywide. Zireva was on Wednesday night still detained at Marlborough Police Station.

Since the operation was launched, at least 1 768 business people had been arrested countrywide while 1 328 companies had appeared in court and ordered to pay fines ranging from Z$70m to Z$100m.

Chief superintendent Mandipaka said the omnibus operators would be brought before the courts to answer charges of flouting price control regulations.

He said: "We have arrested at least 49 drivers and impounded their vehicles after we rounded them up in Harare for overcharging."

Abattoirs suspend deliveries

The drivers were being held at Mbare Police Station. The government ordered that all prices of goods and services be reduced or frozen on June 18.

Of late, commuter omnibus operators had been unilaterally increasing fares citing the high costs of fuel, spare parts and tyres.

The government had since cut the prices of spares and fuel to cushion commuters against regular fare increases.

Meanwhile, shortages of meat and other basic commodities continued on the formal market while most butcheries in the city centre were closed.

Those that were open had no meat, and put the blame on abattoirs for suspending deliveries.

Among those open - but without meat - was Montana Meats. A manager there, Regis Vhondo, said they had only received 45kg of beef from their suppliers.

Major supermarkets such as TM, OK and Food World were selling fish and sausages only.

- SAPA

What is this? Yahoo Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Brought to you by OUTsurance Car Insurance
	News24 Headlines on your Facebook profile		News24 on mobile