By Kevin Tafara
MASVINGO — The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti, has warned business operators in Masvingo that they risk losing their operating licences if they exploit residents through unjustified price increases following the devastating hailstorm that recently hit the city.
Eng. Muguti issued the warning during a Working Committee meeting convened as part of Government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of the disaster and coordinate interventions to assist affected residents.
He cautioned businesses against taking advantage of the emergency by deliberately increasing the prices of essential building materials and hardware products needed to repair damaged properties.
“Business operators who are taking advantage of the disaster to unjustifiably increase prices risk losing their operating licences. It is unacceptable to exploit people who are already suffering from the effects of this devastating hailstorm,” said Eng. Muguti.
Masvingo City Council has also warned that it will take action against business operators found deliberately hiking the prices of essential building and hardware materials, adding that offenders would be blacklisted.
“The City of Masvingo will take action against and blacklist business operators found deliberately increasing the prices of essential building and hardware materials. We urge all businesses to act responsibly, fairly and in the public interest during this difficult period,” the council said.
The measures are intended to protect residents from further financial strain as they seek to repair damaged homes and other properties in the aftermath of the hailstorm.
The disaster prompted Government and local authorities to coordinate response and recovery efforts to assist affected communities and address the damage caused by the storm.
Authorities have called on the business community to support these efforts by maintaining fair pricing and ensuring that essential construction materials remain accessible to residents rebuilding their homes and livelihoods.
The warning comes as the Government and local authorities seek to ensure that the recovery process is not undermined by profiteering at the expense of disaster-affected families.