Like Kuwait
There are fuel queues at almost every service station again. With elections less than a week away, rumours are rife about the fuel shortage. Some people are saying that the government is holding back fuel so that people will not have transport to go and vote. Others are saying we have run out of foreign currency to purchase fuel.
We have become so accustomed to lining up our cars outside a petrol station. I don’t remember the last time I got petrol on the spur of the moment. There is a joke circulating: “Zimbabwe is a lot like Kuwait, because all we do is ‘queue’ and ‘wait’!”
Yesterday, as I drove through the city centre I noticed that there were policemen on every corner of each block along the main street – robert mugabe Way. We see this from time to time. It usually means that mugabe is in town and is due to drive down that particular road, usually with a whole entourage of security. At the end of the motorcade there is also normally an ambulance, just in case. The road will be cleared ahead of arrival by policemen on motorbikes. The procession does not impress people, but angers them! More flagrant abuse of taxpayers money. The fruits of our hard earned labour!
A while later, I pass a small van. The driver is hooting continuously as they drive along. There are supporters in the back cheering and shouting, trying to attract attention. I could not make out who they represented as we passed each other to quickly. Election fever is building up.
