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Economic crisis getting desperate
Bulawayo Agenda
November 05, 2008

Bulawayo

Some banks in Bulawayo were still giving people $50 000 today despite the announcement by the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Gideon Gono to increase the maximum withdrawal limit with immediate effect. Bank officials spoken to said that they were yet to receive cash from the central bank before they could start giving people the gazzetted ZW$500 000. Long winding queues were the order of the day as people hoped they would be able to access cash from different banks. Most people had stopped going to the banks for withdrawals because transport was costing them $50 000 a single journey, the same amount they could access from the bank in a day. The RBZ has been pegging withdrawal limits at very low rates making it difficult to carry out any financial transactions. Most retailers are demanding cash for any purchases and patients are being denied access to medication, as pharmacies are also demanding cash payments only.

Nkayi

Humanitarian organizations are still struggling to meet the demand for food aid in rural areas due to severe food shortages in most parts of the country. Villagers were expecting food aid from Christian Care last month but due to a high demand the organization was unable to distribute food in Nkayi South. Hungry villagers are so desperate that they have resorted to eating plain green vegetables without sadza, tree leaves and wild fruits. The most commonly eaten tree leaves are those of ihabahaba. People cut the sour leaves and eat them raw. It is alleged that villagers are now consuming the leaves of the wild fruit because the fruit itself is now out of season. Another common wild fruit is umdoro - a small dry seed is left to soften in water overnight. The water used to soften the fruit is used as a sweet drink.

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