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Surviving Zimbabwe's runaway inflation
BBC News
February 14, 2007

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/6357575.stm

A Zimbabwean student, who asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC News website how she copes with living in a country with runaway inflation.

According to official figures, Zimbabwe's annual inflation rate now stands at 1593% - the world's highest.

The cost of absolutely everything in Zimbabwe has gone up. I am a student and my bus to the campus has trebled in price in the last two months. The cost of a meal has increased tenfold.

Most people have had to remove bread, milk, meat and eggs from their daily diets as these things are just too expensive now.

The implications of this rise in inflation are very serious. What it really means is the poor are getting even poorer.

Conditions are quite unbelievable as they are. People live in shacks if they are lucky, many simply live on the streets.

In the last year, my school fees have quadrupled. I know I am blessed, I am one of the lucky ones as I can still afford to go.

The atmosphere at university is one of support. We are very close and we help each other. Many people have been forced to leave because of this price rise but we all pull together and donate money so our friends can continue with their studies.

Education is a big problem in this country. Basic secondary education now costs a minimum of Z$300,000 ($1,200 at the official exchange rate, $65 on the black market).

Many young people have no choice but to drop out. It is very sad, there are no jobs for them to take up when they leave. Life is bleak.

Daily life is enormously affected by this inflation. The cost of electricity, fuel and water is now out of control.

The rise in petrol prices has meant that travelling by public transport has become very expensive, too expensive for most people. I know of some who walk 30km or 40km each way just to get to work.

My place of study is very far so I have no other option but to get on public transport. I don't know what will happen if prices go up much more though.

Water has been known to go for many weeks on end. My university has experienced many electricity blackouts but we just have to continue as best we can. It can happen at any time, those in authority do not have fixed times for turning it off.

Many people are now turning to the black market either as black market dealers or as customers of the black market to make ends meet.

If I get money, that's what I do. I buy foreign currency on the black market in order to safeguard it from the runaway inflation rates we are experiencing.

Life is just terrible in Zimbabwe. We are unable to buy the basics any more. Soap, lotions and even cooking oil cost around $20,000 (US$80 officially, US$4 on the black market) now.

Sanitary pads are simply not an option for women as they are just too expensive. Women have no choice but to use cloth instead.

The basics are not so basic to us anymore.

This is why I'm so determined to continue with my education. I am very ambitious and I hope to own my own company one day.

Hopefully that way, I will be able to help Zimbabwe out of this desperate situation.

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