HARARE, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe on Thursday removed all limitations on importing essential goods in an attempt to control skyrocketing prices.
"In order to enhance the supply of basic goods to the public, all basic goods will no longer be subject to import licenses and will also come into the country free of import duties and taxes," Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said.
Announcing a wide range of measures to stabilize the exchange rate and macroeconomy following price hikes and exchange rate volatility in recent weeks, Ncube said the government is committed to maintaining macroeconomic stability and eliminating destabilizing arbitrage conditions in the economy.
The government, Ncube said, will promote using the Zimbabwean dollar for domestic transactions by ensuring that levies and fees charged by government agencies and service providers are paid in the local currency.
The measures announced also include further fine-tuning the foreign exchange auction system, transferring all external loans and a commitment to continuously review the domestic interest rate to encourage domestic savings. ■