Imagine husbands stooping so low to exchange 20 kg of mealie meal for two Scud beers. On the black market 20 kg costs $4 while a single Scud of opaque beer goes for $0.75. This is daylight robbery, said Mbuya Mhembere of Masangomayi Village.
When this reporter visited the beer hall last Sunday, there was an informative poster pasted on the walls indicating the trade terms. The beer garden was overflowing with merry customers.
The practice was against a background of chilling warnings that a severe food shortage was looming following a poor 2010-2011 farming season.
Post published in: News