Some good news from Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean authorities released Roy Bennett, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC’s) designated deputy agriculture minister from prison and supermarket shelves are starting to feel the weight of food again.

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Zimbabwean authorities released Roy Bennett, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC’s) designated deputy agriculture minister from prison and supermarket shelves are starting to feel the weight of food again.
In terms of his bail conditions Bennett had to surrender his passport, report to the Harare Central Police Station three times a week and pay US 000 (R49 900).
The support for this champion of democracy was evident in the rousing welcome he received from throngs of supporters outside the prison in the eastern town of Mutare. But the good news is somewhat tempered. Bennett still has to face charges of “imposition of weapons”, which he called “an absolute fabrication”, and has yet to be sworn in as minister.
As far as supplies to supermarket are concerned, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s decision to allow supermarkets to transact in US dollars or rands has created a better trading environment. Supermarkets, which have to buy a foreign-currency trading license to trade in foreign currency, once again had produce on their shelves after a three-month dearth.
However, supermarkets are stocking mainly South Africa goods as local manufacturers are now few and far between. Prices are exorbitant with a box of cereal costing R70. This looks set to worsen as the government has recently hiked duties on imported goods.
A business woman from Harare, Diana Bentely, has found a novel way, around the problem. Her family lost their farm at a time when there was very little fresh produce in stores and she spotted a gap in the market. Pulling together a packhouse owner and the few remaining vegetable farmers in the district, Bentely started selling a selection of crates of fruit and vegetable.
The crates come in three sizes: a “couple” retailing at US (R149) for vegetables and US (R99) for fruit; “family” retailing for US (R249) for veg and US (R149) for fruit; and a “mega” crate at US (R299) for veg and US (R199) for the fruit.
“In three months orders have grown from 34 to 950 a week,” said Bentely. “Since the shops started stocking fresh produce again orders have dropped off a bit, but we’ll continue to capture our target market.”
Dollarisation has given the country breathing space to get its economy moving, but it must be accompanied by economic reforms if it’s to bring lasting relief. Zimbabwe’s finance minister Tendai Biti recently said the country needed urgent financial help to revive the economy and prevent the collapse of the power-sharing government formed on 13 February.
Biti said the country could descend into “chaos” without help from other governments. Australia has come to the party and on 11 March had agreed to allocate A million (R15,1 million) split between the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF and Britain’s Department for International Development.
However, the US, formerly one of Zimbabwe’s biggest donors, has extended targeted sanctions against Mugabe.
It’s been a long haul for Zimbabweans, who are feeling tired and stressed.
“Most people are battling financially,” a source told Farmer’s Weekly. “I don’t think they dare to feel hopeful because their hopes have been dashed so many times before.” – Robyn Joubert