Herald Reporter

POLICE recovered basic foodstuffs worth a staggering $37 million in a crackdown on hoarding, black market trading and illegal exports in June alone.

The basic goods recovered were sugar worth $967 147, salt valued at $31,9 million, cooking oil worth $1,6 million and maize meal valued at $2,5 million in nine of the country’s 10 provinces.

Police did not recover any basic commodities in Matabeleland South.

Sugar, cooking oil, maize meal and of late salt have been in short supply. The commodities are not available in retail outlets but readily found on the black market where they are sold at exorbitant prices.

According to a police report, the shortages began to worsen after the March presidential election won by President Mugabe. "This unprecedented development initially manifested itself through shortages of maize and mealie meal.

"While concerted efforts were being made to address the maize problem, sugar and cooking oil also became scarce on shop shelves. The latest commodity to be in short supply is salt," the police report said.

It said while there might be various reasons proffered by stakeholders for the shortages, "it is believed that the underlying cause is economic sabotage maliciously intended to discredit the lawfully elected Government of Zimbabwe".

"The artificial shortages in the minds of the detractors would ferment or agitate the masses to engage in looting and defiance of law.

"The unimaginable dream theory would lead to an ungovernable state or anarchy, which would pave way for the overthrow of the Government."

According to the report, the opposition MDC was also hoping to gain political mileage "by orchestrating artificial shortages".

In line with its mandate to maintain law and order in Zimbabwe, police impounded goods being sold on the black market in order to ensure the continued availability of basic commodities and promote peace and stability.

The force established price control inspectorate teams tasked with monitoring activities of manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. The teams also helped enforce price controls.

Roadblocks were mounted countrywide to cut off supply routes and trafficking routes by dealers. Police also tightened border security to curb illegal exports and launched special operations to monitor black market trade of basic commodities.

The police recommended that the Government make concerted efforts on total control of the production and distribution systems of all basic commodities because they formed the backbone for the sustenance and survival of any sovereign nation.

Police also urged the Government to ensure key positions in parastatals and board memberships were offered to patriotic Zimbabweans who have the nation at heart.

"Serious collusion in these clandestine dealings or hoarding of basic commodities should be nipped in the bud."

Some notorious wholesalers and retailers were known to be profiteering from illegal dealings in basic commodities. These should be considered for suspension from trading by revoking their licences, police said.

Security forces should also be adequately equipped to be able to screen all baggage to enhance tight control on all goods leaving or coming into the country.
Police also called on the Government to re-visit foreign currency regulations and operations of bureau de changes as some dealers were illegally exporting basic goods.

"The lucrative foreign currency earned from outside the country is largely contributing to the illegal exportation of basic commodities.

"Basic commodities meant for local consumption end up being smuggled out of the country due to the profitability of foreign currency sold on the black market."

President Mugabe has said that the Government would not hesitate to take over companies that hoard basic commodities after it was discovered that National Foods was keeping salt at some of its depots countrywide.

While salt was not available in most retail outlets last week, hundreds of tonnes of the commodity were discovered stashed away at National Foods depots promoting allegations of hoarding.

However, National Foods has denied that it was hoarding the commodity saying it could not import adequate supplies due to the shortage of foreign currency, which is available at black market rates.

The company has since suggested that the Government take over stocks of the commodity it currently has and distribute them.

The company however said the take-over would be on the understanding that the Government would replace the stock, without National Foods incurring any costs.

"It would be necessary for packaging, distribution and direct packing costs to be charged to the Government so that we return to the status quo," National Foods managing director, Mr Ian Kind said in a letter to the Permanent Secretary for Industry and International Trade, Mr Stuart Comberbach.

Mr Kind also suggested that the Government immediately approve price increases of the commodity for his company to release onto the market, stocks it is holding.

He said the cost of importing salt had risen dramatically over the past month and was continuing to rise on a daily basis.

Delays in the approval have resulted in the shortage of salt on the market, he said, as National Foods hung on to stocks at its depots and plants.

Mr Kind claimed that his staff at depots were now being "roundly abused" by the public, politicians and subjected to "forced entry" by ZBC.

"This position is unacceptable and can only lead to future decision making by National Foods being based on no imports till price increases.

"This will lead to no stocks being available at all and delays even the price increase approvals until the material can be brought in, packed and distributed to outlets,’’ he said.

© Copyright of Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited 2001.

Reproduced from:
http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?id=11824&pubdate=2002-07-03