The price of the bread has shot up for the first time this year by about 17 per cent from $18 to $21 for a standard loaf.
The price increase came into effect over the weekend and by Monday, most of the large-scale retailers were already selling a loaf for between $20 and $21.
National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe president, Dennis Wallah, said flour is not subsidised hence market forces were at play. He said:
The price of bread has been stable from November to date. We don’t have subsidised flour available hence the market forces are now at play.
Consumer Rights Association spokesperson, Effie Ncube, said the latest hike in the price of bread means that most families are now food insecure as they can no longer afford basic foodstuffs.
Ncube suggested that there could be collusion among bakers as the price goes up almost at the same time and by the same margin.