Over 700 retailers face prosecution as Government tries to soften public discontent over economy

By Lance Guma
29 September 2006

Over 700 retailers face prosecution on charges of illegally hiking the price of basic goods with 24 (according to the state owned Herald newspaper) having already appeared in a Harare court on Thursday. Economic and political experts are both agreed the government is trying to soften mounting public discontent over the high cost of living dominated by an inflation rate of over 1200 percent. A number of the retailers have already pleaded guilty and have been fined between Z$10 000 and Z$ 20 000 each. Bread, milk and cooking oil prices have gone up in the past weeks as manufacturers battle mounting production costs. Government on the other hand is accused of ignoring the practical aspects of running a business and instead looking at the political fallout of these increases.

Harare magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe appeared to tow the government line by urging the media to highlight the prosecution of the retailers so as to send a signal to ‘would be offenders.’ Butcheries, supermarkets and general dealerships are being targeted for either not displaying prices or overcharging. Lionel Saungweme in Harare tells us that the retailers prefer to plead guilty and pay the fines because this was the cheapest option. Retailers interviewed said they are being harassed by the police and conditions in custody were unbearable, resulting in the fines being a soft option. Members of the business community have been angered by government breaking its promise not to impose price controls but as Saungweme pointed out ‘survival’ was now the key word for Mugabe’s regime and not economics.