Friday, August 01, 2008

(HERALD) Harare gets ready for Bacossi

Harare gets ready for Bacossi
Herald Reporter

GOVERNMENT has begun preparations for households in Harare to start buying basic goods under the National Basic Commodities Supply Side Intervention programme launched recently by President Mugabe. Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe officials were yesterday accrediting teams that will be tasked with conducting a survey of the number of households in the capital’s seven districts.

The teams consist of district administrators, University of Zimbabwe students, central bank and other Government officials. Accreditation of the survey teams was underway at Harare Polytechnic College yesterday. The more than 1 500 — who will conduct the surveys — underwent a two-day intensive training on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"We are still here and waiting for the IDs to be processed and once they are ready, we will be deployed to various areas in Harare and Ruwa where we will be operating from," said one of trainees who preferred anonymity.

Once deployed, the teams will first collect the names of households to benefit from the programme before a verification process.

Distribution points would then be set up in the districts once the verification process, which is expected to last a week, is complete.

A central bank official who declined to be named said the verification was meant to avoid duplication and guard against fraudsters.

In an interview, Harare Metropolitan Province Resident Minister Cde David Karimanzira said he had been given a briefing on the progress achieved to date.

He said the teams would be accompanied by police when they conduct their surveys.

"Some people might become suspicious but the police would be there to clarify the position," said Cde Karimanzira.

He said the distribution points would be set up at schools and community centres.

The Baccossi programme, which is being spearheaded by the central bank, seeks to, among other things, make sure that all Zimbabwean families have equal access to affordable basic commodities.

Most people are battling to get basic goods, which have been priced beyond their reach.

The food hampers cost $110 billion and include rice, sugar, toothpaste, cooking oil, sanitarywear, washing powder, flour and soap, among other basic commodities.

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