Maravi

(HERALD) No more price hikes: President

No more price hikes: President
By Victoria Ruzvidzo

PRESIDENT Mugabe has said the era of unjustified price increases has now come to an end following the launch of the National Basic Commo-dities Supply Enhancement Programme, which will bring basic goods to the people at affordable prices. He also warned yesterday that businesses that would continue to disregard ethical business practices would face the consequences. Officially launching the initiative yesterday, President Mugabe said Government would do everything in its power to ensure that people would not be short-changed anymore.

"That is the message but when the message is not heeded and those who have adopted the habit of exploiting the masses continue to do so, then, of course, we will say the message has not been heeded and there are other ways of getting them to heed the message, but behind doors and behind bars," he said.

Government, through the central bank, had disbursed funds to capacitate businesses, but the supply situation had actually worsened.

President Mugabe has previously implored business to desist from profiteering, but the calls have largely fallen on deaf ears.

"We do not want people behind bars but on this side of the bars so they can be of greater benefit to our people. We would want our prisons to be empty than full but, alas, just now they are brimful and we do not know what to do.

"Those in the forefront please produce but produce for the people and not against the people. The goods must be accessed otherwise what are we doing if we are producing products that can only be afforded by a few?"

He applauded Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono for his efforts to counter the effects of profiteering and greed that have crept into the economy.

Government would put more effort in this direction.

Basic products being distributed under the Bacossi to the People initiative would be distributed to communities at their local service centres. The central bank has already mapped out the distribution centres from provincial to village levels. Local traditional leaders such as chiefs and headmen would be actively involved in the distribution. The aim was to reach all households.

Soon after the launch ceremony yesterday, truckloads of the products were dispatched to rural areas countrywide.

Government officials, service chiefs, the diplomatic community, the clergy, members of various political parties, the media and traditional leaders, among others, witnessed the occasion.

Supply of the goods in urban areas would commence once outstanding logistics on the distribution channels were mapped out.

A hamper that will last a month for an average family of six, containing such items as cooking oil, laundry and bath soap, flour and mealie-meal, would fetch about $100 billion, an amount that can only buy a loaf of bread presently.

Those in rural areas who may not immediately afford the goods would be allowed to pay at a later date upon endorsement by their respective village heads.

Others would engage in public works, from which they would raise funds to purchase the basic goods.

President Mugabe said this intervention was part of efforts to bring relief to the people while measures were being taken to revitalise the productive sectors.

The supply programme would also be extended to boarding schools, a move that was expected to result in a reduction of the need for top-up fees, a phenomenon that had become common every term. The food component constitutes a significant percentage of schools’ costs.

"As Government, it is our responsibility to stand in defence against threats to the welfare of our communities, particularly in the areas of food availability and accessibility to other necessities," said the President.

He warned that those tempted to divert basic commodities under this programme away from the intended distribution points would be dealt with severely. Systems had already been put in place to monitor and follow up the distribution process.

Speaking during the launch ceremony, Dr Gono said the National Basic Commodities Supply Enhancement Programme was only one of the interventions that were being put in place to ameliorate challenges in the economy.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, so this is but one step that we have taken as we implement strategies to improve the lives of our people," he said.

Similar interventions were also being worked out for agricultural inputs and other economic sectors.

"We want to confront market failure with market instruments. These will also deal with market indiscipline by way of profiteering and side-marketing at the expense of the real consumer," he said.

He emphasised that the programme was apolitical and no forms of discrimination would be used in the distribution process. It was a programme for all Zimbabweans, particularly those at the grassroots level.

"In this regard, we appeal to every Zimbabwean of goodwill to join in this process (of economic regeneration), regardless of political affiliation or origin.

". . . it is imperative that stakeholders come to realise that lasting success against the inflation monster will come with sustained local production in our fields, mines, factories and other service sectors of the economy,’’ said Dr Gono.

Furthermore, President Mugabe lamented the illegal sanctions as contributing to the current state of affairs, saying for a long time, some people had sought to argue and misinform the world that Zimbabwe was not under sanctions, and to give the impression that the people were turning against their own Government.

"In their haste to salvage their doomed regime change agenda, the West has, however, now openly demonstrated to the world its real destructive intentions on the Zimbabwean people.

"Rine manyanga hariputirwe. Zvavapachena iye zvino why Britain has this preoccupation about Zimbabwe. What is Zimbabwe to Britain? That is the question we continue to ask and the answer to that has not been provided."

He said the ultimate aim by the Western powers was to change the Government so they could continue to exploit the resources that Zimbabwe was endowed with.

Labels: ECONOMY, INFLATION, MUGABE, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 4:28 AM