Mishma Chakanyuka, Staff Writer 
THE Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has urged the government to ease import restrictions on essential goods to help stabilise prices, as consumers face rising costs driven by ongoing exchange rate issues that continue to strain the retail and wholesale sectors.
In the past, the government has responded to similar economic challenges by suspending customs duties on basic commodities, allowing duty-free importation to relieve pressure on prices.
“We urge the government to open borders for basic goods and other essentials. Manufacturers have taken government protection for granted, leading to monopolistic behavior and price manipulation,” said CZR president Denford Mutashu in a statement.
Denford-Mutashu, Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president
“Allowing retailers to import goods without restraint will help keep prices competitive and ensure consumers have access to affordable products.”
Opening borders has been a key strategy used by the government in previous years to stabilise the economy when price hikes and shortages occurred.
However, some experts caution that lifting import restrictions could harm local industries, arguing that it may be counterproductive in the long term.
Mutashu also emphasised the importance of keeping the supply chain structured and accountable by ensuring manufacturers and distributors prioritize formal retail channels.
“We urge all stakeholders to strengthen partnerships within the supply chain and prevent direct-to-consumer sales that undermine retailers,” he said.
According to Mutashu, Zimbabwe’s wholesale and retail sector operates in a largely dollarized supply chain, yet most of the sector’s income is in Zimbabwean dollars (ZiG).
This creates a significant imbalance in business operations, making it difficult to maintain stable pricing.
“Most suppliers are demanding payment in a USD to ZiG ratio of 80:20, while others impose a heavy premium on goods sold in local currency.
This means retailers and wholesalers must either source goods with a majority USD payment or absorb the inflated cost of goods priced in Zimbabwean dollars,” Mutashu explained.
He also criticized the exchange rate system, which he described as “artificially fixed,” creating further complications.
“The current legal framework, particularly the Exchange Control Act, prohibits pricing goods above the prescribed exchange rate when using ZiG. As a result, retailers and wholesalers are forced to adjust their prices to align with the USD equivalent, despite selling primarily in local currency,” he added.
Mutashu called for more consistent regulation across both formal and informal sectors to create a fairer business environment.
“The formal sector is heavily regulated, while the informal sector often operates without sufficient oversight. This disparity must be addressed to ensure fair competition.”
To address the currency conversion challenges and ensure sector survival in a multi-currency environment, Mutashu suggested that goods procured in foreign currency should be sold exclusively in US dollars. newsdesk@fingaz.co.zw
