When prostitutes walk, diesel talks…
This image is currently doing the rounds on Zimbabwe email and indicates that diesel has become the gold standard in Zimbabwe, holding its value far better than the Zimbabwean dollar. This article appeared in the Independent Online (South Africa) giving the full context.
Zimbabwe’s ladies of the night are demanding diesel in return for their favours, mostly from South African long haul drivers.
A report in the Manica Post, a government controlled newspaper in Mutare, eastern Zimbabwe, says truck drivers en route from Beit Bridge to Harare are being asked to pay for the ladies’ services in 20 litre lots of diesel.
The new fuel entrepreneurs are making twice what they would normally earn by selling the fuel to locals. Zimbabweans have been starved of regular supplies of fuel since March.
The newspaper said the trade was taking place in Mvuma, 200km south-west of Harare.
Is diesel a second preference to United States dollars, or has its value in Zimbabwe even surpassed that? This article from the same source earlier this year:
Zimbabwe prostitutes are now demanding that their clients pay in United States dollars in preference to the local currency, the state-owned Herald newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The paper said prostitutes in the city centre were charging tourists US$200 (about R1 640) a night, as the country suffers its worst economic crisis since it achieved independence from Britain in 1980.
The prostitutes only accept local dollars when business is low, the paper added.
Zimbabwe has held its exchange rate at 55 Zimbabwean dollars to the greenback since October last year, while the black market rates have soared to as much as 150 to one. – Sapa-AFP
November 13th, 2005 20:58
I’d call the prostitutes entrepreneurs for that! Fuel prices all over the world have soared ,I’m paying almost a £1 /litre .
It would be nice if you popped by my site and left a Zimbabwean flag,you don’t have to comment just turn up
Up to press I’ve had 92 countries visit.
December 9th, 2006 11:38
IT IS OKAY ITS A WAY OF LIVING
November 12th, 2005 20:23
[...] In contrast to Kenya, the economy in Zimbabwe shrinks further every day. Now it transpires that Zimbabwean prostitutes are demanding payment for their services in gasoline. [...]