President Emmerson Mnangagwa has accused some businesses of hiking prices of goods and services and keeping them high even though the rate of the US dollar has fallen on the black market.
He advised members of the public to boycott the businesses while warning such businesses that the government will soon descend hard on them.
Addressing a crowd in Manicaland on Monday during the commissioning of the Tanganda-Ngundu road, President Mnangagwa said:
Kana kuna vaya vaya anamuzvina bhizinisi varikuramba vakakwidza mitengo, aiwa varegei vakadaro.
Pindai muma shop evadzikisa mitengo, anenge achidhurisa kwete. Tiri kuvarongera. Yavo shamu irikugadzirwa zvakanaka naka, yaiswa pamushana … mumvura mune munyu.
(If there are businesses that are still charging high prices, ignore them and buy from shops that have lowered their prices.
We have a plan for those that are charging these high prices … we are putting in place measures that will see those businesses being punished accordingly).
Government officials have in the past spoken against price increases but recently, there has been the talk of establishing “Silo Shops” which will be selling goods at low prices.