Staff Reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned unscrupulous business traders hoarding basic commodities resulting in artificial shortages and an increase in prices.

Speaking at the Presidential rally at Nyele primary school, Bulilima district, Matabeleland South, yesterday, President Mnangagwa said that investigations were being carried out to determine the veracity of claims that some Indian business operators had warehouses full of basic commodities.

“Prices are rising starting from Innscor. I have been told that some Indians in Harare are stocking basic goods in warehouses, buying sugar yakawanda kunana Chiredzi resulting in shortages and increase in the prices of same.

“Let me warn them, I am having people investigating the warehouses and if it is true, we will confiscate not only the warehouse but the things inside and give it to you and distribute them, if they want to hoard, they should do it in their country not here in Zimbabwe. Our Government will not tolerate such to happen in Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa.

President Mnangagwa further indicated that prices started to increase ridiculously ever since he announced the election date.

“We are being attacked currently with rising prices. It only started when we announced that we are going for general elections. Our enemies decided to cause chaos in the country by continuing to increase prices of commodities,” said President Mnangagwa.

Since the announcement of the August 23 election date, regime change agents have manipulated prices of basic commodities in a bid to have the populace turn against the ruling Government ZANU PF.