Zimbabwe “Basic Commodities Have Become Luxuries”
16 Jul 2008
Independent economists estimate that the Zimbabwean economy has shrunk by up to 70 percent since 2000 when President Robert Mugabe's supporters embarked on the violent expropriation of white-owned commercial farms.
Business has never been this bad, said Nomathemba Nkomo.
A few years ago, the 37-year-old businesswoman laid down projections for her business. Increasing the number of staff members was one pointer that she used as an indicator of success. She wanted to create employment for school leavers at a time when the country’s troubled economy is failing to absorb them into the formal sector.
‘‘I run two fleamarket stalls in what used to be one of the most lucrative business sites in the city. But it has increasingly become difficult to stay afloat. I have had to ask some of the young women who worked for me to stay home,’’ Nkomo told IPS.
While struggling, she remains one of a few women who have been able to soldier on during these trying times, even moving across borders to bring in goods from neighbouring countries.
‘‘Some have closed shop altogether and, as you can seen, some of the stalls are stocked with only a few clothing items. People cannot manage anymore,’’ Nkomo said.
Tabeth Muronza (33) has to wake up early each day and walk about 10 kilometres to a vegetable market. The present crisis makes the daily grind worse, leaving her fatigued.
The visibly tired mother of two admitted to IPS, ‘‘I have now taught myself to expect each day to be worse than the previous one’’.
In this city of more than two million people, she is one of many women who sell vegetables. Her sales point is outside a local beer hall. One tomato goes for up to 10 billion Zimbabwean dollars (about 0.25 euros).
Muronza purchases her wares from vegetable markets in the city centre. Few of these markets have remained after white farmers fled from veterans of the country’s war of liberation at the height of the farm invasions.
The once productive land now lies fallow in most of the southern parts of country, throwing the lives of vendors like Muronza into increased hardships with no source of income.
In the past, her earnings paid for basics like milk, bread and meat for her two school-going children. Now, she laments, these basic commodities have become luxuries.
‘‘The kids now know we cannot afford these things though in the past they would demand a decent breakfast before they left for school,’’ she said.
This is another example of the plight of millions of children in a country where the World Food Programme (WFP) and other humanitarian agencies estimate that up to half the population will need food assistance this year alone. Muronza’s children now have to settle for cold leftovers from the previous night.
Health workers at local council clinics say they are seeing an increase in the number of children under five suffering from nutrition-rated illnesses. ‘‘There are a lot of underweight children coming here,’’ Greater Basuthu, a nurse working at a local government clinic, told IPS.
‘‘While we do have a feeding programme for children under five run by one of the few remaining non-governmental organisations in the city, (the onus remains on) mothers to feed their babies at home where they are supposed to get better food,’’ she said. However, especially single women without alternative sources of income are struggling to do this.
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Source: IPS News
A few years ago, the 37-year-old businesswoman laid down projections for her business. Increasing the number of staff members was one pointer that she used as an indicator of success. She wanted to create employment for school leavers at a time when the country’s troubled economy is failing to absorb them into the formal sector.
‘‘I run two fleamarket stalls in what used to be one of the most lucrative business sites in the city. But it has increasingly become difficult to stay afloat. I have had to ask some of the young women who worked for me to stay home,’’ Nkomo told IPS.
While struggling, she remains one of a few women who have been able to soldier on during these trying times, even moving across borders to bring in goods from neighbouring countries.
‘‘Some have closed shop altogether and, as you can seen, some of the stalls are stocked with only a few clothing items. People cannot manage anymore,’’ Nkomo said.
Tabeth Muronza (33) has to wake up early each day and walk about 10 kilometres to a vegetable market. The present crisis makes the daily grind worse, leaving her fatigued.
The visibly tired mother of two admitted to IPS, ‘‘I have now taught myself to expect each day to be worse than the previous one’’.
In this city of more than two million people, she is one of many women who sell vegetables. Her sales point is outside a local beer hall. One tomato goes for up to 10 billion Zimbabwean dollars (about 0.25 euros).
Muronza purchases her wares from vegetable markets in the city centre. Few of these markets have remained after white farmers fled from veterans of the country’s war of liberation at the height of the farm invasions.
The once productive land now lies fallow in most of the southern parts of country, throwing the lives of vendors like Muronza into increased hardships with no source of income.
In the past, her earnings paid for basics like milk, bread and meat for her two school-going children. Now, she laments, these basic commodities have become luxuries.
‘‘The kids now know we cannot afford these things though in the past they would demand a decent breakfast before they left for school,’’ she said.
This is another example of the plight of millions of children in a country where the World Food Programme (WFP) and other humanitarian agencies estimate that up to half the population will need food assistance this year alone. Muronza’s children now have to settle for cold leftovers from the previous night.
Health workers at local council clinics say they are seeing an increase in the number of children under five suffering from nutrition-rated illnesses. ‘‘There are a lot of underweight children coming here,’’ Greater Basuthu, a nurse working at a local government clinic, told IPS.
‘‘While we do have a feeding programme for children under five run by one of the few remaining non-governmental organisations in the city, (the onus remains on) mothers to feed their babies at home where they are supposed to get better food,’’ she said. However, especially single women without alternative sources of income are struggling to do this.
Read More...
Source: IPS News
