Zim blitz: 'We are at war'
18/07/2007 12:03  - (SA)  

US slams Zim price controls Some relief seen for Zimbabwe Zim to intensify price blitz Mugabe praises security forces Price blitz: CCZ official held

Zimbabwe Special Report  Latest Zimbabwe Stories

Harare - Zimbabwean vice-president Joseph Msika has warned that businesses in the country will suffer if they fail to stock their shelves with goods, say reports.

Msika, who was speaking in the east of the country, said President Robert Mugabe's government was at war with retailers and manufacturers.

Msika was quoted by the official Herald daily as saying: "We are at war. We will not allow shelves to be empty. Now, we will not allow it. We will do it (crackdown on offenders) in a manner that you will squeal."

Msika's comments followed reports that some shops had stopped restocking after the imposition of sweeping price controls.

His comments echoed those of Mugabe late last month after he promised the business community a rough day for continuing to hike prices amid an economic crisis marked by inflation of more than 4 500%.

Meat sold at knockdown prices

His government later sent teams of police and state agents to shops and factories around the country to order prices cut by more than half.

As a result, shops' shelves had rapidly emptied of basic goods like sugar, cooking oil, flour and meat, sold at knockdown prices to hordes of bargain-seekers.

Fuel stations had run dry after they were told to sell fuel at a third of its value, and outlets for luxury goods like stoves and televisions had not been spared.

Retailers warned that at the outset they would not be able to restock their shelves if they were forced to sell at a loss and, unsurprisingly, some shops had closed their doors.

The Herald quoted an official from a chain of supermarkets that had closed some of its branches this week as saying the closures were due to persistent power cuts.

Nhamo Marandu, a marketing manager for the OK supermarket chain was quoted as saying: "We have not deliberately closed down some of our outlets, but they have been closed due to power cuts being experienced.

"We have generators, but we have no fuel, so we cannot operate."

Meanwhile, police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka confirmed on Wednesday that 3 509 shop owners and company officials had been arrested since the price controls were imposed on June 26.

Most had appeared in court and paid heavy fines.

Sapa-dpa

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