g of nobody knows how many billions of worthless bank notes and bearers’ cheques.
How is it that Mugabe and his few remaining supporters are incapable of comprehending the most basic economic fundamentals? Terrorising the final link in the production chain, the retailer, into slashing the prices of goods to the general public in the hope of averting national economic collapse must surely be the actions of a madman.
The systematic destruction of the means of production by Zanu (PF) over the past two decades has brought the economy to where it is today. Without addressing these fundamentals, and of course the rampant corruption, cronyism and patronage on which the party survives, jumping in to thrash retailers into reducing prices is hardly a recipe for economic recovery.
Reports indicate that a few retailers did indeed give into the terror tactics – sparking a frenzy among shoppers as a few people got lucky, gobbling up the reduced-price goods as though there were no tomorrow. No doubt many thousands of green bombers, war vets and policemen went to bed that night on a full stomach for the first time in months, if not years.
But now what? Now it is tomorrow! And as the photos in this issue demonstrate so well – there is nothing left. Instead of alleviating the suffering of millions of Zimbabweans, Mugabe and his henchmen have – yet again – simply made it worse. Much worse.
Many businesses were brutally forced to empty their storerooms. Violence, assault, looting and arrests were reported country-wide.
A large wholesaler lost about Z$500 million on orange juice alone after reducing the price. Another chain gave away all its bread rather than sell it at a loss. Many shops have closed and the owners are reported to be in hiding.
Even the black market has dried up. And what of tomorrow?
Word for Today 26
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. … anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:1,2,10
Post published in: News