OUTRAGED Kuwadzana residents Friday demanded President Emmerson Mnangagwa act on the skyrocketing price of meat and rapid increase in school fees.
Mnangagwa said he was powerless to act on prices of meat, which have continued to increase on the back of galloping inflation but would act to stem the price tide on school fees.
Meat prices have been soaring, driven by high pricing by abattoirs and cattle farmers, citing challenges posed by the prevailing economic situation.
While the salary of the least paid civil servant remains stagnant at Z$1 000, the price of commercial meat-grade which was ranging between Z$30 to $40 in October 2018, has increased threefold to around Z$105 and Z$120.
At the same time, schools have increased fees exponentially, with many resorting to pegging fees according to the prevailing foreign currency bank rates.
On Friday, Mnangagwa was confronted with two petitions after he arrived at Kuwadzana 2 Shopping Centre for the monthly national clean-up campaign.
“Ndanzwa zvichemo zvenyu zviviri. Chenyama nechikoro. Hallelujah. Ndonozvioongorora izvozvo. Asi panyama handina simba rakawanda. Asi pa school fees apa. Haa, apa ndinokwanisa kugadzira (I have heard your two petitions…on meat prices, I don’t have much power, but school fees, I can certainly fix),” Mnangagwa told the residents.
“Ma rate ekukanzuru, ndakatonzwa vekukanzuru vachindikumbira kuti tiawedzere (Council has approached me seeking approval to increase rates),” Mnangagwa said to wild interjections.
“Aah, saka ndicharamba kuti awedzegwe (I will not allow them to increase rates),” Mnangagwa added.
Mnangagwa is on record saying government would allow market forces to determine prices, ruling out the introduction of price controls to tame run-away prices of basic goods and services.
At the height of rampant currency inflation in 2007, government embarked on an operation to control prices of all goods sold, slashing them by half. The mad rush ignited by the directive left shelves empty and businesses unable to restock.
