Zimbabwe police arrested 17 more business executives for defying an official price freeze, as the ruling party endorsed the government's tough stance on businesses, state media reported on Saturday.
President Robert Mugabe's government last week ordered prices of basic goods and services slashed by half and deployed a crack enforcement unit, which has arrested more than 200 business people for breaching the price controls.
The move, which sparked panic buying from shoppers who rapidly emptied shop shelves, was taken after prices of many goods tripled within a week. Inflation, the highest in the world, has rocketed above 4,500 percent while four in five adult Zimbabweans are jobless.
The official Herald newspaper reported on Saturday that 17 more top company executives were arrested on Friday in Harare and Bulawayo for offences ranging from failing to display prices to overcharging. Those arrested include managers at fuel stations, who were also ordered to cut prices.
Police spokesman Oliver Mandipaka warned of a broader crackdown on business people and black market vendors, enjoying roaring trade as goods become scarce in formal shops.
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