The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) national chairperson Philip Bvumbe has said that prices for goods are higher in Masvingo compared to Harare and Bulawayo. Ironically, Masvingo is closer to South Africa where most of Zimbabwe’s imports come from.
Speaking at an engagement meeting with Masvingo consumers on Thursday last week Bvumbe expressed shock in the level of most goods in Masvingo. Bvumbe said:
I checked the prices in Masvingo and realised that they are even higher than those in Harare. I was hoping in Masvingo the prices would be lower since it is nearer to South Africa. The breadbasket is even higher in Masvingo than cities such Mutare and Bulawayo.
Andrew Chekani, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Masvingo chapter chairperson said that retailers in Masvingo incur additional transport costs when they bring locally-produced products from Harare and Bulawayo. Chekani said:
As retailers in Masvingo, we do need assistance. We have limited milling in Masvingo and when we get products from say Bulawayo and Harare, most retailers add additional costs. If there were millers in Masvingo, it would assist us in pricing. We look at the cost element, that is, landing costs from suppliers in Bulawayo and Harare. We also have unavailability of stock as we get a limited range of stock than what we would require.
More: News Day
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