Shoppers stampede for cooking oil

Police were yesterday called to restore order at some of Harare's leading retailers when desperate shoppers caused commotion after the outlets had received deliveries for cooking oil.

One of the big shops involved had to close shop after disorderly customers stampeded for the oil.

Queues have resurfaced in Zimbabwe and this time it's for cooking oil.

One industrialist says it's becoming unsafe for truck drivers to deliver the product because of unruly crowds.

At Pick n Pay in Borrowdale on Thursday, hundreds of people were queuing at tills to get bottles of cooking oil; shoppers included soldiers in uniform.

There've been reports of riot police being called in to maintain order at one central Harare supermarket selling the product on Thursday morning.

Fears of shortages are fuelling hoarding and panic buying of cooking oil, which is a key ingredient used in preparing vegetable relish eaten daily by most Zimbabweans.

One manufacturer tweeted that it's dangerous for drivers and shop staff to deliver cooking oil because people go crazy before it's even offloaded.