‘Beer prices slashed’: economy issues solved!
Newspaper billboards today read ‘beer prices slashed’
Well, that’s OK then. We can all afford to get smashed drunk, and maybe that way we can get through the elections next year, endure the Mugabe regime a bit longer.
In fact, if we get really really really drunk - so drunk we can’t think, speak or walk - maybe we won’t care that we can’t feed or educate our children; that we have no jobs; that nothing works anymore.
Is this Zanu PF’s idea of a joke? Or are they really so desperate they have no idea what to do anymore, so getting the nation drunk seems like a good plan.
Its farcical!
The background to this is as follows: the Zanu PF government, with predictable economic stupidity, has announced sweeping price cuts in a bid to curb inflation (this is now ‘officially’ at 4,500% so unofficially is bound to be much higher). Industry Minister Obert Mpofu announced price cuts of up to two-thirds on a range of basic goods and services.
Apparently the state-controlled media have been asked to comply as well - something I’m delighted and amused about - and the response from the Justin Mutasa, chief executive of ‘The Horrid’, the main government mouthpiece, said the price of newspapers would go down only when the cost of newsprint, ink and other materials went down. “We welcome the latest intervention in the spirit that the same will be extended to suppliers.”
Welcome to the real world Justin!
Given that this is a government with degrees in violence and masters of verbal intimidation, we should know by now that the policy will be accompanied by viciousness and threats. So it comes as no surprise to hear that a unit drawn from Zimbabwe’s security agencies has been tasked to enforce the cuts. This will be the vicious Green Bombers, no doubt.
The problem is, the country is on its knees and a lot of businesses survive by buying foreign currency on the black market and buying supplies in from outside Zimbabwe. They are forced to price their goods according to the costs there. Is Mpofu going to send his green bombers across the borders to threaten and intimidate South African and Botswanan suppliers if they don’t drop their prices as well. Honestly, is the man a lunatic?
Businesses are struggling to work out what exactly is required, but no one seems to know. Rumours of managers and shop owners being arrested are already circulating. The price slashes mean that businesses will have to sell goods at lower prices than they paid for them - immediate losses across the board if they do this. A few people I know have simply closed their doors to traders: if they drop their prices, their businesses will have to be closed for good. Very few are making profits these days, most are ticking over, trying to keep their businesses alive as long as they possibly can.
A friend of mine speculates that the real reason behind this is probably a calculated attempt to force businesses under so that they have to lay off staff. This will leave the population even more unemployed and desperate as supplies dry up. Maybe they’ll take to the streets then and start rioting. My friend thinks that if that happens, Mugabe doesn’t have to bother with elections, he’ll just declare a state of emergency and rule openly through fear and curfews and use of force from the army. It’s a plausible hypothesis to me, because he is that egocentric (I believe) and he certainly is that evil, but why would younger members of Zanu PF go along with this. That’s what’s baffling. Is that old man so important that they’d scupper all their futures just to sustain him a few years longer?
I am quite looking forward to seeing how ‘The Horrid’ copes. Great! That’s one ‘business’ I wont be sad to see fail - and I’ll especially enjoy it if it fails because of Zanu PF’s lunacy.
I have lots of questions, and am completely stunned with disbelief at the stupidity of what’s going on.
But, hey, I should look on the bright side; at least I can go out and get drunk!
June 28th, 2007 17:06
oh man!
i hope that time will be over soon.
what happens here is so unbelievable stupid and nothing than against humanity.
i cant even write my real name down here to show everyone that i am watching.
stay couraged, and - well, you know.
June 30th, 2007 21:42
These are the kicks of a dying horse. Don’t get stoned on cheap beers just to get by. I did it, it doesn’t work. Just organise and agitate. I am doing it, because I too got as low as you are in Zimbabwe now. There is never a dangerous animal than a hungry animal. Even these evil Green bombers have to buy food. They will also go hungry. Underneath their cardboard hard mask is a stomach. So Mugabe is doing you guys a favour.
July 1st, 2007 15:32
Is there not ONE SINGLE functioning economist in the the entire country who has even one bit of input into government policies? This is a (another) set up for complete economic collapse. I am absolutely amazed that the Zimbabwean people are able to continue to function in this inferno called “The Zimbabwee of Mugabe & ZanuPF”. May God (continue to) protect and love the Zimbabwe people and may we continue to cry louder and louder that SOMEONE might hear
July 4th, 2007 17:27
Wayne, Zimbabweans have a phrase, we call it ‘MAKING a plan’ and we construct solutions out of nothing. The fact that we still continue is testimony to the resourcefulness of all our people. I think this will be a good thing one day in the future when we re-build our country.
Floence, I hear you, but you remember that Mugabe is famous for saying “absolute power is when a man is starving and you are the person with the food”. And that is worrying.
Hope (Sokwanele blogger)
July 6th, 2007 05:46
Hope,
thank you for the encouragement. I cry for Zimbabwe. Two of my dearest friends in the world are Zimbabwean (I’ll with hold names). I don’t know what they will do in the months to come. They are currently out of the country, but their visas for the country where they are now residing will expire near the end of this year and they will be forced to make some tough decisions. For now they hace access to forex and are able to help family back home (in Zim), but I fear that might not last long enough for them to be able to continuie to help - I fear that the worst is yet to come. In swahili, we would say tuwepiga mayowe kwake Mungu kwa ajili ya wazimbabwe (let us cry out to God for the sake of the people of Zimbabwe)
Wayne
July 8th, 2007 02:34
Democrats in fascist Amerika also can’t use their real names or they’ll be arrested by Bush’s gestapo and put in his concentration camps and torture prisons like Gitmo and Abu Ghraib. Just be glad Bush doesn’t consider Zimbabwe a terrorist country, or he’d “liberate” you.
July 9th, 2007 04:43
Well - there you go. Interesting, if not very uninformed comment from democratic underground. I suggest you look up the work fascist in any nickel dictionary. One of the wonderful things about Amerika (sic) is that anyone - no matter race, political affiliation, country of origin, religous persuasion, citizen or visa visitor or green card holder has the absolute right to express pleasure or displeasure with government policies without fear of reprisal. This is not unique to the US - many countries around the world respect this right for all citizenry - it just doesn’t happen to be the case in Zimbabwe right now - we can hope and pray that will soon change
Wayne (my REAL name)
July 20th, 2007 17:31
democratic underground
Yes, well that really is the most uninformed piece of journalese I have had the misfortune to read for some time.
Wayne
With the situation in South Africa deteriorating on a daily basis and the idiot mugabe continuing his predations on the land and the people I am pessimistic as to the chances of Zimbabwe’s economic recovery.