Hooray! Christmas cheer is back

Zimbabweans were on Christmas-eve busy making last-minute preparations to celebrate Christmas today with many expressing optimism that, unlike the previous few years, this is going to be a memorable holiday as most families have disposable income to spoil themselves.

However, profiteering shop-owners in Harare almost blighted prospects of fun-filled festivities after they raised prices of basic commodities on the back of increased demand.

Transport operators also appeared determined to be spoilsports as they doubled fares for most rural routes. Nonetheless, holidaymakers were raring to make today's festivities better than the last. The traditional Christmas shopping basket - comprising chicken, rice, soft drinks, beer, flour, biscuits and sweets dominated the shopping lists.

Preparations for the big day began as early as Thursday.

In Harare, most workers formed long queues at banking halls, eager to inject "cash power" into their respective holiday excursions.

The same situation was witnessed in other major urban centres such as Bulawayo, Mutare and Gweru. The capital saw those who secured cash early purchasing goodies at supermarkets as well as clothing at department stores.

Some planned to visit their rural homes and others went out to resort destinations around the country. The preparations reached a crescendo on Friday with last-minute shopping being the order of the day.
A survey in central Harare yesterday showed some supermarkets had increased the prices of basic products such as cooking oil, beef, flour, bath soap and toothpaste by significant margins. In one supermarket, a 2-litre bottle of cooking oil bottle was going for US$5,05. A 2kg packet of rice; a 10kg bag of mealie-meal; 2kg of sugar and 2 litres of orange juice were going for US$3; US$7; US$2 and US$3,39 respectively.

A kilogramme of beef was going for between US$4,65 and US$7. Mr Robert Watenga, who returned home for Christmas from Namibia last week, said the prices threatened to dampen the Christmas spirit.
"Prices have gone up. It seems some shop-owners are taking advantage of the bonus that people have received, but that should not be the case," he said.

"In Namibia, for instance, product prices are not increased willy-nilly. I think authorities should put measures in place to deal with such profiteering."

A public relations manager with a large retail chain group attributed the increases to huge product demand.

"At times, shop-owners target bonuses. However, the situation has been precipitated by demand this time around."

Many holiday travellers were stranded at Mbare Musika bus terminus and other pick-up points around the capital on Friday after failing to get transport.

The situation, however, improved yesterday after bus operators brought in reinforcements. However, other operators, probably smelling "super-profits", doubled fares yesterday.

This led to desperate travellers parting with their hard-earned cash. Others abandoned their journeys altogether.

"The situation has vastly improved. We expect the situation to get even better as the day progresses," said Mr Edwin Chipangura, a vendor at Mbare Musika.

"Most of the travellers who were stranded here on Friday afternoon were ferried to their destinations last night while others travelled this morning (yesterday morning)."
Touts and commuter omnibus crews at a pick-up point popularly known as KuMbudzi forged an unholy alliance to raise fares.

"Most of us knew they were going to raise fares during this time. So, we came prepared," said Mr Benson Chitima, who was travelling to Gutu.

"We pay US$6 in a normal situation. However, we are being told to fork out US$12 today. As usual, these people are cashing in on our desperation and they are walking away scot-free.

"That is the reason people are still stranded here."

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Mr Joseph Kanyekanye confirmed receiving reports of unilateral price increases.

He said preliminary indications were retailers took advantage of movements in the value of the South African rand.

"Generally, it is a busy season for the retail sector with the supply of both local and imported products. Since the rand had shifted a few weeks ago, I think retailers perhaps took advantage of that as well," he said.

"There is, however, a good practice by self-sufficient companies in the beverage and food sectors. Hence, there have been no price increases."

President of the Marketers' Association of Zimbabwe Mr Godfrey Dube described the price increases as "unreasonable".

"I went around the shops and I am surprised that prices have gone up. I do not know on what basis, though.  It is a challenge when people cannot access their income from banks and have their little income eroded even through transport costs," he said.

"I think business and Government need to work together so they take a tough stance on profiteering companies and retailers."

Meanwhile, businesspeople at popular social spots such as Mereki in Harare's Warren Park suburb were preparing for brisk business today.