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Consumer
basket surges to $49,1m
Tawanda Chigwaza, The Herald (Zimbabwe)
June
08, 2006
http://www1.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=4116&cat=8&livedate=6/08/2006
THE cost of
living for a family of six for the month of May surged to $49,1
million, up by 19,5 percent from the April figure of $41 million,
according to statistics released by the Consumer
Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) yesterday.
The CCZ said notable increase were recorded in water and electricity
which rose by 185,9 percent, transport costs which rose by 66,7
percent, salt by 51 percent, health by 40 percent while the price
of white sugar went up by 34 percent, margarine by 18,3 percent.
Vegetables and rent increased by 17,9 percent and 16,7 percent respectively
over the survey period.
The consumer
watchdog also observed a visible improvement in the supply of roller
meal as maize has started trickling into the Grain Marketing Board
(GMB) depots countrywide and this might have resulted in the continued
decline in the price of roller meal on the market.
In April the
price decreased by 22,2 percent, going down by a further 9,2 percent
in May.
"The cost of
vegetables continues to increase owing to the shortages of local
products like onions and tomatoes of which only imported substitutes
are available," said CCZ.
The CCZ also
observed that the cost of drugs has been on the increase and this
could be linked to the 40,8 percent increase in the cost of the
health component of the basket.
Last month saw
widespread increases in rentals, impacting negatively on consumers
as some of the costs are now beyond the reach of the average worker.
"The supply
of sugar continues to be erratic and this continues to push its
price up each time it is available on the market," said the consumer
watchdog.
"The biggest
shift in the month of May was recorded in the water and electricity
cost component of the basket. Water shortages for most consumers
ballooned owing to the tariff increase at the beginning of the month,"
said CCZ.
The CCZ calls
for the respective authorities to clarify the situation as consumers
are still in the dark on which authority is responsible for water
billing system and the correct tariffs.
"Many consumers
have received huge water bills to which they seek clarity on. Electricity
tariffs were increased as of the beginning of June, hence consumers
are urged to conserve the electricity in order to avoid huge bills
at the end of the month," said CCZ.
According to
the consumer watchdog, a casual comparison of shopfloor wages and
the Poverty Datum Line reflects that some consumers are now forced
to forgo some basic food and non-food items owing to the high costs
thus compromising their livelihoods.
"Employers are
therefore called upon to give their workers salaries that take cognisance
of the cost of living. CCZ continues to advocate for the meeting
of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) parties and we also call
on every Zimbabwean to rally behind the National Economic Development
Priority Programme (NEDPP) for the betterment of the economic situation,"
added the consumer watchdog.
Surveys for
the consumer basket are conducted twice a month while the basket
is calculated by averaging the prices of goods in retail outlets
across the country.
In view of rising
inflation, the CCZ continues to urge consumers to exercise their
right to choose and intensify their search for affordable commodities
or cheaper substitutes.
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