Online Reporter
Oliver Kazunga
Senior Business Reporter
RETAILERS and manufacturers have allayed fears of any shortage of basic commodities during the festive season, saying the country has adequate stocks.
Traditionally, during this time of the year, consumer expenditure rises due to increased disposable income as the largest employer, the Government, as well as some companies in the private sector, would have paid annual bonuses to their workforce.
In an interview, Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president Denford Mutashu said retailers and wholesalers are prepared for the busy period and discussions have been held with local manufacturers to ensure adequate stocks are made available at the material time of the busy
period.
“We are promoting buying and consuming locally; we want to support our manufacturers against the attack of smuggled and counterfeit goods that are rampant.
“And we are also urging our consumers not to fall for seemingly cheaper and affordable prices of counterfeit commodities as these pose serious health dangers to their lives.
“We encourage consumers to shop from formalised stores and ensure that they buy quality and standard goods,” he said.
“Stocking for the festive period starts around August/September and we are working around the clock . . . once the festive season lapses, beginning of 2025, we are fighting against empty shelves and make sure that goods will still be stocked up . . . and ensure that consumers continue to access key basic commodities across the country.”
Mr Mutashu said CZR was excited that the availability of key basic commodities was not concentrated in urban areas and towns, but across the length and breadth of the retail and wholesale space.
“We visited a number of growth points and rural district councils and discovered that all the shops are adequately stocked.
“We were in Manicaland in the past few days and visited the furthest parts of Manicaland and discovered that even the rural shops had basic commodities like sugar, mealie meal, cooking oil . . .
“What we also urge business (retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers) is not to take advantage of the festive rush and increase prices unjustifiably and this has been a conversation that has been going on throughout the last half of the year.
“And we are quite confident that we’ll not see any shortages and price escalations as a result of the demand associated with the festive season,” he said.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) chief executive officer Ms Sekai Kuvarika, whose organisation represents manufacturers, assured the nation of adequate stocks of basic commodities during and after the festive season.
“Manufacturers are ready for the festive season and manufacturing is in full swing before manufacturers close for the holidays.
“We are not expecting any shortages, as manufacturers. I could say there isn’t any expected shortage of basic goods during the festive season and we wish consumers happy festive shopping as goods are in abundant supply,” she said.
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has urged consumers to be vigilant against buying suboptimal or counterfeit products during the festive season.
CCZ chief executive officer Mrs Rosemary Mpofu said there are a lot of substandard commodities in the market, with some of them being smuggled into the country, and consumers should be wary of such goods.
“As consumers, we must be very careful as we celebrate during the festive season.
“Let us not forget our responsibility; let us not forget our rights because we must always be protected — but protection begins with ourselves.
“Let us be people who have critical awareness; people who can think and remember that there are thieves out there,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Government has begun a door-to-door crackdown to confiscate contraband that is increasingly flooding the country, particularly during the festive period.
Those found in possession of smuggled items will face imprisonment without an option for bail.
The operation also targets wholesalers, supermarkets and tech shops with smuggled goods such as a variety of foodstuffs, clothing, drugs, beverages, fertilisers, cement, vehicles, electrical gadgets and solar panels.
The blitz comes in response
to huge losses of up to US$1 billion being incurred by the country annually due to smuggling along the
borders.
The crackdown coincides with the peak season for smuggling, as many Zimbabweans return home for the Christmas and New Year holidays, often bringing goods from South Africa and other neighbouring countries.
