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Count on me - Mugabe
24/07/2007 21:48 - (SA)
Harare - Embattled Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday vowed to forge ahead with his campaign to force businesses to reduce their prices by giving a new commission powers to continually monitor tariffs.
In a keynote address at the opening of a session of parliament in Harare, Mugabe admitted the country was facing mounting economic woes including a serious foreign currency crunch.
But he added that the poor would be cushioned from the impact as a result of the controversial Operation Dzikiza (Operation Reduced Prices) which he justified as a response to an attempt to topple his regime.
"The inexplicable prices and rent hikes which were apparently welcomed and encouraged by our regime-change proponents compounded the situation further and thus invited government intervention," Mugabe told lawmakers.
"Government... remains committed to restoring price stability and normalcy to the economy," he added.
'Ahead of parochial partisan interests'
Mugabe said that members of a new pricing and incomes commission had already been appointed and the body itself would soon be up and running.
"The focus is now on expediting the operationalisation of the national incomes and pricing commission," said the 83-year-old.
"Members of the commission have already been appointed while work on the necessary statutory instruments is already being finalised.
"The commission will carry out research, maintain a comprehensive database to be used in the analysis of pricing and production costs across all sectors of the economy."
About 3 000 retailers and manufacturers have been arrested in the last four weeks since government ordered prices of all goods and services to be halved.
Manufactures who had been raising their prices several times a day in order to keep pace with rampant inflation have said the government-imposed prices mean they are unable to cover their costs and stores are running out of stocks.
Despite the stand-off between government and the business sector, Mugabe called for collaboration to address the country's economic woes.
"Indeed putting Zimbabwe first ahead of parochial partisan interests remains the best approach in seeking to turn around our economy," Mugabe said.
"By putting Zimbabwe first let us all shun retrogressive and self-destructive tendencies and work tirelessly to see Zimbabwe emerge as a strong, united and egalitarian and prosperous nation."
Zimbabwe, once seen as an economic role model in Africa, is now stricken by a jobless rate of about 80% and an inflation rate of well beyond 5 000%, although the government has stopped announcing the figure.
- AFP
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