By Lloyd Takawira
Hard pressed Zimbabweans continue to be pushed to the walls as the cost of living shoots up with the latest Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) statistics reporting that the cost of living for a family of six rose from $35 877 in April to $40 680.
In it’s latest report, the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe reported that the monthly basket for a low income urban earner for a family of six rose by over 13% amid an uncertain currency exchange rate coupled with economic stagnation.
“The cost of living as measured by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe’s low-income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six increased from the end of April figure of $35 877,92 to 40 682,84 by June 9 2021, showing an increase of $4 804,92 or 13,39%.
“The food basket increased by $1 504,23 or 9,83% from $15 303,88 by end of April 2021 to $16 808,11 by June 9 2021. The price of detergents increased by $172,69 or 16,74% from $1 031,54 to $1 204,23″.
The latest Consumer Council survey also blamed SI 127 and numerous SI for currency volatility which it argues had seen most suppliers of good and services not reducing their prices in Zimbabwe dollars to align their pricing with the requirements of SI 127 as uncertainty rear it’s ugly roost in the country.
The latest CCZ figures comes after numerous Statutory instruments which economists and observers argue are militating against prospects of an economic rebound.
However, the government has maintained that the economy is on a recovery path despite evidence of daily struggles in communities .
