The Zanu PF blackmarket
Business utilization is now estimated to be down from 25% of capacity to around 15% as Operation Dzikamai (the business Murambatsvina) continues to hit home.
There are essentially two groups involved in the chaos.
One is made up of presumably Zanu PF supporters who follow police and Price Inspectors. This group appears to have inside knowledge on these raids. They pounce armed with cash and pick up bargains as the store owners are forced to sell at prices below cost.
The second simply survey empty shelves and open comments of derision can now be heard. It seems that the Government propaganda is not winning the war of words.
In Harare, one can now buy most things at “independent” stores but at a huge price. Fuel is selling for between Z$300 000 to 700 0000 per litre, bread up to Z$65 000, 2L cooking oil Z$400 000 and sugar Z$110 000 per 2kg.
It is believed that a good portion of these goods are spoils from the raids conducted by the authorities.
July 11th, 2007 10:22
This is horrible propaganda! The West stands by President Mugabe! The U.S. Dept. of State and No 19 Downing St. will not abandon the honorable President Mugabe in this crisis. Every citizen knowlegeable in African affairs is urgently emailing their representatives to send hundreds of millions of dollars to the ZANU PF. Indigenous leadership will not be allowed to fail!
July 11th, 2007 23:37
Is there a number 19 Downing street or did the writer mean No. 10 Downing Street?. What planet is this guy from? Should he perhaps stop reading State Propagana and spend a little time out amongst the starving townships.
July 13th, 2007 03:39
Can someone please explain to me why anyone who has aquired foreign currency would be crazy enough to exchange if for the Zimbabwe currency – which is near enough to totally worthless???
July 13th, 2007 21:36
The West does not stand by mugabe and get it straight ,he is not worthy of the title and if you think you are going to get millions of dollars then you have been out in the sun too long mate.
Indigenous leadership (if you call mugabii “indegenous”) has failed already. Democratic underground??? what a strange posting name because you certainly do not appear to espouse democracy>
July 16th, 2007 14:50
‘demmcraticunderground’, Whatever you’re smoking, I’d like some of that! Wake up out of your dreamworld and smell the roses! That idiot is ruining what was once a beautiful and prosperous country. He is not worthy of the title,’President’ let alone ‘Mr.’ The sooner he goes, the better! How on earth we see so many people supporting his filmed ‘tirades’ on TV is remarkable – what is he paying them with? Or are his thugs on hand to see that they all cheer when the cue-cards go up? Soon those detained in prison will outnumber the refugees – let’s see his supporters feed them!
July 19th, 2007 22:55
Methinks Mr”Democratic Underground” is a bit of a wind up artist or he has discovered a new brand of weed to smoke.