Life in Zimbabwe
Many of you wonder what life really looks like in Zimbabwe today. You want hear about how ridiculous mundane costs have become. To that end, yours truly spent some time on Harare's streets to bring it to you straight from the people. Here's a street interview with our guest "Peter."
ZP:
What did you pay for the ET to work this morning?
Peter:
40k into town, 40k to mount pleasant. [up from $20K/trip two months ago! ]
ZP: How do you hack it man, 160K a day on transport everyday
Peter: I am fortunate in that my company pays half of my transport costs. so i just make sure i get into tow in the morning and they will take to the office and back into town manheru
ZP: ok, even then, what portion of your salary is left when you take away the 80K you use a day,that's $320 a week, 1.28 million a month on transport alone! And that's using just one combi ride into work. Many people in Harare have to take two combi's to get to work!
Peter: Yep, thats excluding the weekend trips. My salary is at 18million now, less rent and groceries for a family of four and fees for children that needed to go to school.....
ZP:
How about bread, how much is a loaf of bread?
Peter:
Officially 66k, but I saw it for 70k yesterday
ZP:
How about rent?
Peter:
A standard cottage will go for about 10M. thats bedroom, kitchen, bathroom. Medium density rates.
ZP:
Schools are closing soon, has there been any word on school fees yet?
Peter:
None that i have heard.
ZP:
But then what do you do with the money if you have any leftover, even if you save, interest rates are lower than inflation so you lose money by saving it
Peter:
Right now the best way to invest is the stock market but its risky, your share price can rise or fall.
ZP:
What is the fuel situation these days?
Peter:
Still no fuel at most stations. You have to hear from people where to buy it.
ZP:
crazy!
Peter:
Yeah, in zim you have 2 choices, give up or die trying. i will take the second option.
ZP:
What's the US dollar trading for on the streets and do you think it's available
Peter:
u'll find it at about 220k per 1USD and yeah, if u look in the right places u can find it.
Peter:
that said tho i am still hopeful about this country. There are pple who are making it in this country, we still have infrastructure, and resources. its just the "pea" brains who are behind it that need to be fixed.
ZP:
What's a bottle of coke cost, if you can find it now?
Peter:
just came back on the market about a week ago. 60k for the 300ml bottle.
ZP:
and a plate of sadza (Zimbabwean staple) for lunch?
Peter:
250k
Zimbabwe, Life in Zimbabwe,
ZP:
What did you pay for the ET to work this morning?
Peter:
40k into town, 40k to mount pleasant. [up from $20K/trip two months ago! ]
ZP: How do you hack it man, 160K a day on transport everyday
Peter: I am fortunate in that my company pays half of my transport costs. so i just make sure i get into tow in the morning and they will take to the office and back into town manheru
ZP: ok, even then, what portion of your salary is left when you take away the 80K you use a day,that's $320 a week, 1.28 million a month on transport alone! And that's using just one combi ride into work. Many people in Harare have to take two combi's to get to work!
Peter: Yep, thats excluding the weekend trips. My salary is at 18million now, less rent and groceries for a family of four and fees for children that needed to go to school.....
ZP:
How about bread, how much is a loaf of bread?
Peter:
Officially 66k, but I saw it for 70k yesterday
ZP:
How about rent?
Peter:
A standard cottage will go for about 10M. thats bedroom, kitchen, bathroom. Medium density rates.
ZP:
Schools are closing soon, has there been any word on school fees yet?
Peter:
None that i have heard.
ZP:
But then what do you do with the money if you have any leftover, even if you save, interest rates are lower than inflation so you lose money by saving it
Peter:
Right now the best way to invest is the stock market but its risky, your share price can rise or fall.
ZP:
What is the fuel situation these days?
Peter:
Still no fuel at most stations. You have to hear from people where to buy it.
ZP:
crazy!
Peter:
Yeah, in zim you have 2 choices, give up or die trying. i will take the second option.
ZP:
What's the US dollar trading for on the streets and do you think it's available
Peter:
u'll find it at about 220k per 1USD and yeah, if u look in the right places u can find it.
Peter:
that said tho i am still hopeful about this country. There are pple who are making it in this country, we still have infrastructure, and resources. its just the "pea" brains who are behind it that need to be fixed.
ZP:
What's a bottle of coke cost, if you can find it now?
Peter:
just came back on the market about a week ago. 60k for the 300ml bottle.
ZP:
and a plate of sadza (Zimbabwean staple) for lunch?
Peter:
250k
Zimbabwe, Life in Zimbabwe,
