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Mugabe praises security forces
16/07/2007 12:45 - (SA)
Harare - President Robert Mugabe has saluted the security forces in Zimbabwe for supporting his government's controversial campaign to slash prices of all goods and services in the country, say reports.
The 83-year-old leader was speaking on Sunday as he gave out prizes after the President's Medal shooting competition in the capital, Harare.
Mugabe said: "I wish to commend our security forces for the assistance they have given to various government programmes, with the latest being the price stabilisation exercise."
For the past two weeks, police and state agents had been travelling around the country, forcing companies and shops to slash prices by half or more.
As a result, shops had been emptied by bargain hunters, some of them apparently working in cahoots with the price inspectors. There were now acute shortages of basics such as bread, flour, cooking oil and fuel.
Security forces 'play important role'
Many of the goods had resurfaced on the black market, at much higher prices than they were being sold at in the shops.
Prices had been spiralling out of control due to inflation of more than 4 500% before the imposition of the sweeping price cuts.
Last month, Mugabe accused the business community of trying to foment civil unrest to oust his government and ordered them to stop raising prices or risk having their companies seized.
On Sunday, Mugabe said the security forces were playing an important role in maintaining peace in the country.
He said: "The role played by the security forces in containing the machinations of our detractors and their local puppets and thus ensuring the peaceful and tranquil environment obtaining in our country today is praiseworthy."
He said his government would continue with the clampdown on the business sector, as well as pursuing other programmes that he said would benefit the majority.
3 200 shops prosecuted
Mugabe said: "We endeavour to pursue the interests of our citizens with ever renewed vigour, regardless of the spirited efforts by our detractors to frustrate initiatives designed to improve the general well-being of our people."
It was reported that 3 200 shops and businesses had so far been prosecuted in the police blitz against high prices, the hoarding of goods and the failure to display prices.
According to reports, more than Z$555m had so far been raised through fines imposed on the business community.
Police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka said the price reduction campaign was expected to head to rural areas, where prices were still high.
Mandipaka said: "There is no significant progress in rural areas as businesspeople there continue to defy the directive. Our inspectors will soon be moving in to deal with them."
But, many businesspeople in the rural areas were ruling party members and there were suggestions the campaign could backfire.
Sapa-dpa
- SAPA
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