HARARE - Government is looking at ways to mitigate the deepening shortages of cooking oil, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.

Finance minister Tendai Biti told journalists at a press conference that industrialists had told him recently that the country was headed for hard times and his intervention was needed promptly.

“It is clear that there is a shortage of cooking oil in the market,” Biti said.

He said he has already put in motion mechanisms to avert the crisis which is causing an increase in the price of the commodity.

“We are going to do something on the issue of cooking oil that will encourage freer importation of cooking fat,” Biti said.

“As far as other basic commodities are concerned the import tariffs will remain as they are.”

Zimbabwe is heavily relying on South Africa for the supply of the commodity.

The minister also revealed that Zimbabwe retailers are shunning locally manufactured washing soap in favour of imported ones, a move which he said was contributing to a high import bill. - Talent Chapanduka