What is life like for an ordinary Zimbabwean trying to survive through Zimbabwe's economic crisis? Armed with the latest figures from our field offices, Christian Aid did some calculations. But we are only too aware that the situation is changing by the day …
In January this year Zimbabwe's official rate of annual inflation finally soared past the 100,000% barrier, driven by ongoing shortages of food and fuel.
Looking glass world
The extra zero made news headlines around the world, but for Zimbabweans it would have come as no surprise. It was just another reminder of the Alice Through The Looking Glass world they have inhabited for the past few years - a world where a doctor's appointment at Z$300 million amounts to nearly half a teacher’s monthly wage and a child's school uniform (albeit with shoes) can set you back Z$1.5 billion.
Pitted against prices like these, daily survival is becoming an increasingly difficult struggle for the ordinary Zimbabwean. Although teachers have been promised a pay increase to more than US$100 a month by an embattled regime looking to curry favour before the election, teachers have until now earned only US$20 (Z$800 million) a month – just enough to pay for the cost of their daily bus fare, which amounts to Z$40 million or a US$1 a day.
Sixty million dollar tin
For the industrial worker the maths are even bleaker. The minimum wage for an industrial worker is US$10 a month; the cost of a can of tomatoes is more than US$2 (Z$62 million).
The can of tomatoes is indicative of a general situation where food prices are spiralling out of control. A kilo of beef for the family now costs US$2.67 (Z$80 million), while two kilos of chicken will weigh in at US$4.67 (Z$140 million). Many families in Zimbabwe can no longer afford to eat meat more than once a week; meanwhile, milk and fruit have become luxuries.
A kilo of unrefined maize to make maize meal – used in African cuisine to make flatbreads and porridges – is slightly more affordable at a cool Z$8 million (27 US cents). So, too is a loaf of bread at Z$11 million (37 US cents).
But a 750g jar of Nescafe will set a family back Z$150 million (US$5) while 80 bags of Rooibos tea will cost Z$80 million (US$2.67).
And prices are, of course, rising by the day. Our price survey was carried out around 24 March. With the situation so fluid, the chances are that the situation has worsened since then. Some economists are now putting the inflation rate at 150,000%, though at the time of writing Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe, is threatening to force businesses to cut their prices ahead of the election on 29 March.
Radio at a price
Whatever the reality of the situation, one thing is certain: millions of Zimbabweans will be glued to their radio sets over the next week as they try to keep up with election and post-election events.
But even that comes at a price. The batteries for a radio - now costing Z$100 million – amount to a third of an industrial worker’s or house maid’s monthly salary.
Perhaps, there’s only one thing for it. Head for the border, as millions of Zimbabweans have done already, opting for menial jobs in countries like South Africa and Botswana.
But remember, if you use a car to do it, a litre of petrol will set you back Z$50 million (US$1.30).