Africa News reveals the insider story with exclusive photographs as Zimbabweans await the an address from the new Prime Minister, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai who will address a rally on Sunday to brief the nation on the deadlocked power sharing talks with Mugabe. The talks had reinvigorated hope among Zimbabweans. Hope that their economic, social and political agonies would evaporate but it seems it never rains but pours.

Inflation

How do people really survive in a country with 231 million % inflation, worthless money, shortage of fuel, meaningless salaries, where prices go up every day, where medical attention has become a luxury because it has gone beyond the reach of many, where parents can not afford to pay school fees. A country suffering from the yoke of economic sanctions romanticised as targeted travel bans by the all powerful west. The country is with erratic electricity supply and flowing raw sewage. Zimbabwe is suffering from internal political tension, international condemnation and isolation.

Sifelani Mapfumo, is a 32 year-old school teacher in the high density suburb of Tafara (ironically meaning we are happy) in Harare. He earns $12 000 Zimbabwean dollars per month (about US$30) and he almost cried as he explained how the money does not sustain him.

A loaf of bread costs $800, meat $3000 per kilo, transport costs $400 per single trip, he has to pay for school fess for his two kids who each needs about $10 000 per term and he has to pay rent. Landlords demand payment of rent in foreign currency which is about R250 (South African Rands, thus about $24 000).

We are not even talking about clothes and support for his ageing parents in the rural areas or the groceries needed per month. Sifelani needs at least $75 000 per month to survive but he only earns a paltry $12 000. So how does he and other Zimbabweans survive?
In order to make ends meet, Sifelani relies on monthly support from his younger brother who is working as a general hand in South Africa. The younger brother sends foreign currency every month and it makes a very big difference in Zimbabwe. “This is how many people survive; we receive foreign currency from the diaspora. US$100 is equivalent to Z$54 000 so it makes a lot of impact here, otherwise I cant imagine how I would survive with my peanuts of a salary,” said Sifelani.

Social vices

However, others have turned to crime and prostitution for survival. Others are now cross-border traders going to South Africa, Botswana, Dubai and other neighbouring countries to buy cheap products then come and re-sell them in Zimbabwe at a profit. Some people in the cities grow vegetables in their gardens which is cheaper than buying meat at about Z$3 000 per kg which is a quarter of the majority’s monthly income.

Most young people have embarked in illegal dealings in foreign currency on the black market to earn a living. Others have resorted to illegal trade in precious minerals such as gold, diamonds, emeralds and others. They will then smuggle the minerals outside the country where they fetch reasonable prices in foreign currency.

Those who go to work steal from their employers. They do so in many ways. For instance, they avoid using their phones for personal business and abuse phones at work as well as cars, fuel and some steal company products for resale in the black market at give away prices.

Amos, a journalist in Zimbabwe said he has been forced to cut on meals to reduce his budget. He only affords one meal a day, in the evening. Some times there are functions and cocktails that he attends as a journalist such as press conferences, parties, workshops and others, and then he will be lucky to have two meals.

In other words, while the situation is unbearable, people will always find their ways of survival. It is unfortunate that some of the ways are illegal, de-humanising and detrimental to national development aspirations, but people have to survive and they have to find a way out. In the thick and thin of economic and political challenges, Zimbabweans will always remain a resilient people never running out of tricks for survival. People in Zimbabwe will always find a way even if it means bribing the policeman which is a normal way of business.

NB: Below are exclusive pictures from our reporter in Zimbabwe