John Adoyi, PBA Journalism MenteeAs rising cost of living due to a staggering inflation, ravages Zimbabwe, the president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has accused business owners in the food industry of creating artificial scarcity that has led to food shortage.
The president who stated this during an election rally of the ruling ZANU PF party, alleged that business owners have because of the announcement of a general election, increased the prices of goods.
“We are being attacked currently with rising prices. Why, just when we announced that we are going for general elections, our enemies decided that they must cause problems among our people?”
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The president also alleged that goods were being kept in warehouses and promised to confiscate the goods and give them to the public if any business owner is caught doing so.
“I have been told that some … in Harare are stocking basic goods in warehouses. Let me warn them, I am having people investigating the warehouses and if it is true, we will confiscate not only the warehouse but the things inside and give it to you and distribute them,” said Mnangagwa.
With the inflation that has doubled since May to 175 percent and a currency that has continue to fall, standard of living in Zimbabwe has dropped significantly. Citizens are finding it difficult to buy food stuffs like sugar, bread, rice and other commodities.
Though, in May, the government lifted ban on importation of basic commodities, the situation remains grim as prices are on a steady rise.
The Southern African country whose population is a little more than 15 million, will in August decide if President Mnangagwa will return for his final term of five years in the country’s general election or give Nelson Chamisa, the man whom he narrowly beat in 2018 the opportunity to turn the country’s situation around or elect Saviour Kasukuwere, a former Cabinet minister and top ruling party official.
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