Esther (not her real name), 28, a professional living and working in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, is writing a regular diary on the challenges of leading a normal life. Zimbabwe is suffering from an acute economic crisis. The country has the world's highest rate of annual inflation and just one in five has an official job.  I watched [opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader] Morgan Tsvangirai's return to Zimbabwe on Saturday's news broadcasts (Western media, of course).
He was all smiles, and his campaigning started right there at the airport, condemning the violence that has been going on in the rural areas. Not that it will change anything.  President Mugabe blames the opposition for inciting violence |
After all the government denies orchestrated violence is taking place, and the war veterans blamed for it were on the front page of The Herald newspaper, saying they are not to blame. Zanu-PF [the ruling party] launched their campaign over the weekend as well, they are calling for an end to MDC sponsored violence, and an end to support for Tsvangirai - "a stooge" who was told by his "puppet masters" it was time to go back to Harare. So there we are, with living in one country, yet not quite. The reality though, aside from the politics, is that life here is getting more expensive and more frustrating everyday. Using the Visa debit machines to pay for purchases for example has become an exercise in patience. Mind-boggling cash machines These machines were designed to process transactions with a maximum value of Z$990m at a go. I am sure the esteemed designers never dreamt that some time in the future, users of their innovation would need it to go up to and beyond a billion dollars. An example - it is almost winter here, and I noticed a heater selling for Z$33bn in town. If I were to walk into the shop to buy the heater using my bank card on the Visa machine, it will take 34 transactions, 33 times z$990m, and then one for the balance. Mind boggling? Yeah, thought as much. You can only get Z$5bn a day from the bank, which is why we have to bear the Visa queues. So buying the heater for cash would mean queuing at the bank everyday for seven days before you had enough, and that is assuming you would find it at the same price then.  |  Z$5bn for dinner - we were pleasantly surprised |
Well one does not buy a heater everyday, but a trip to the supermarket will set you back at least Z$1bn, after all, that is the price of a kilogramme of meat, a 750ml bottle of toilet cleaner, a can of air freshener, a litre of imported long life milk. So almost everyone in the Visa queue is going to have at least two transactions, so you can imagine how long people have to spend waiting. I have a friend who I talk to practically everyday. She went quiet last week, and I could not reach her on her mobile. When she finally called, she told me she'd working overtime at all week, trying to re-programme their accounting package so that it could accept their trillion-dollar bank balance. They failed, and in the end had to drop off three zeroes from all their transactions, creating their own kilo dollar. So if they write a cheque for Z$1.5bn they record it in the system as having a value of Z$1.5m. She says that should give them some breathing space. All this is hardly surprising, news on the street is that inflation has hit 1,000,000%. What I don't understand is, why not just say it's off the chart? I mean, how do you measure 1,000,000%? But then I went out for dinner this past week (Z$5bn - we were pleasantly surprised at how cheap it was). I was told that in some countries inflation was so bad that you'd have one cup of coffee at one price, and the second at a higher one. So by that standard, we are still okay - we are hanging in there. 
Esther answers your questions Q: Esther, in my country we recently drafted a new constitution - the way we were able to do this was a 16-day protest. It would have been longer if the ones in power had not conceded. In my view, a government is only as powerful as the people will let it be. I believe it is time for professionals from all quarters to say enough is enough. If you think that standing against a government so clinging to power is going to be non violent and easy, I think you have another thing coming. What if another delay in results after the run-off?
Subigya, Kathmandu, Nepal A: While I agree that at some point confrontation will become necessary, I think people should appreciate just how politicised our army, police and courts are. So basically the ruling party is backed by all these. The judiciary is not there to uphold the law, but to ensure the ruling party never becomes opposition. Any insurrection will therefore be ruthlessly quashed, and no-one is willing to risk their life. Just look at what they are doing far away from the cameras in the rural areas. A war is being waged against unarmed, peaceful civilians. Can you imagine what they would do to people that are actually protesting? We can, and that's why we are waiting for 27 June. Q: This is pathetic. The French and Russians brought down their monarchies with insurrection because of economic reasons. It seems like the people of Zimbabwe are scared to fight or don't want to. If a couple thousand people just marched on the presidential palace Mugabe would flee. How do you explain Zimbabwe's apparent complacency with the status quo?
Edward, Bronx, New York, USA A: The Russian and French revolutions took place way back in the early 20th and the 18th centuries. We should not have to fight. Our voice, as recorded by our vote, should be enough. We are not complacent, we went out there to vote in a civilised manner befitting the age we live in, and we will do the same again on 27 June, only more resoundingly so. Q: Esther, why do you think a change in government would mean a corresponding change in the economy? I believe that the agriculture sector (which used to be the backbone of Zimbabwe) has been severely crippled and will take not just a change in government but more than four years to recover, as we need new infrastructure, new land ownership policies, etc). The MDC has not stated a clear policy on the land issue and this is what makes me a bit sceptical.
Ruramai, Edinburgh, United Kingdom A: I think they are hesitant to spell out their policy on this issue, because the only logical thing to do is to take the land out of the unproductive hands it is in, and give it to people who can produce. Our current environment is such that the media (run by Zanu-PF) would take that and twist it so much that the populace would think recolonisation was around the corner. The current government is unwilling to disturb the status quo, and has even scarier policies on the horizon - 100% empowerment for example. I think it's wrong to put resources in the hands of incompetent people simply because they have the right skin colour, support the right party, etc. We are talking national economics, not family corner stores. This is why the MDC has my support for this election, they at least will bring some change to policy, and give some hope of recovery. Q: Esther, can you describe what is the top newspaper headline in Zimbabwe these days? Is it the off-the-charts inflation, or the political turmoil? Do people in the streets actually believe the stories from Zanu-PF? Will they really be intimidated enough to vote for Uncle Bob? Do people actually discuss politics?
Richard, Rotterdam, The Netherlands A: "MDC should stop violence"; "War veterans not responsible for violence"; "Tsvangirai begs for VP post"; "Zanu-PF raring to go". Basically that Zanu-PF is God's gift to Zimbabwe, and MDC the curse - those are the headlines. Some people believe it, most people laugh them off, and turn off their TVs during news broadcasts on the state-run TV station. I think people in the rural areas may be intimidated into not voting, rather than voting for Bob, and yes, we do discuss politics, but only with furtive glances over your shoulder to see who may overhear, and then only with people you know. Q: What is the average salary in Zimbabwe?
Hawireal, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia A: Civil servants earn as little as Z$8bn, and some people as much as Z$300bn, maybe more. In US dollar terms that's $10 for the civil servant at today's rate (Z$820m to US$1). Q: Hello Esther. I just wanted to tell you that I am amazed by your story. I wish I had read your article sooner, because I am doing a school project on Zimbabwe so I have read up on the news of the inflation and I still cannot believe that it is so bad! I've read about the whole political situation, and from what I've read, you're very brave for hanging in there!
Kristina, Toronto, Canada A: Well, when you are living this life you adapt somehow, or risk going crazy.
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