HARARE - President Robert Mugabe yesterday called for integrity in the hard-pressed business community, which is still reeling from effects of his government's massive campaign to slash prices.

HARARE - President Robert Mugabe yesterday called for integrity in the hard-pressed business community, which is still reeling from effects of his government's massive campaign to slash prices.

"If you are in industry, we expect you as manager, or as chairman of the board, to be a man of integrity," Mugabe said at the burial of a former brigadier general.

In a speech broadcast live on state television and radio, Mugabe said Zimbabwe's enemies were trying to work with people in commerce and industry to destroy the economy.

The 83-year-old leader and his government blame the West, especially Britain, for most of its problems.

"We are going through hard times, times during which the enemy is using clandestine methods to undermine our sovereignty," Mugabe said.

"He [the enemy] is using economic methods because the political methods he has applied are failing: destroy the means of the economy; get people in the economy who are pliable and susceptible to undermine that economy on which the political strength lies."

Zimbabwe's inflation-battered economy has been plunged into more chaos since the government ordered that prices be cut by more than half.

This led to a buying frenzy, resulting in shortages of basics such as cooking oil, sugar, flour and fuel. - Sapa-DPA