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Thousands stranded in Zim
12/08/2007 18:40 - (SA)
Harare - Acute gasoline shortages crippled transport services on Sunday, stranding thousands of travellers at bus stops across the nation before a two-day holiday honouring guerrillas who fought against colonial-era white rule.
At a main bus terminal in Harare, travellers said buses were infrequent and were not available at all to some home districts for the cherished August holiday.
Some people had been waiting in line since 03:00 at the Mbare terminus in the west of the capital, where riot police were called on Saturday to stop passengers fighting to board scarce buses. Police turned travellers off overcrowded vehicles.
The Heroes and Defence Forces holidays on Monday and Tuesday commemorate the seven-year bush war that ended white rule with independence in 1980. Tuesday also celebrates the defence capability of the nation's military, commanded by many former guerrillas.
Thousands of travellers dotted the sides of Harare's main arterial highways, trying to flag down rides. Crowds were three-deep on downtown sidewalks waiting to clamber aboard trucks and private cars.
'Nothing to celebrate'
Many people gave up and headed for their township home - which became a three-hour ordeal instead of the usual 30-minute trip.
"It's misery. There's nothing to celebrate," said a father with two teenage children who only gave his name as Lazarus. "I hope they see their gogo (grandma) at Christmas, God willing."
He said his elderly mother was ill.
Across the country, it was a similar picture, state radio reported on Sunday. It said some bus operators abandoned government-controlled fares and demanded "exorbitant" amounts from travellers desperate to visit relatives in rural areas.
The nation is facing its worst gasoline shortages since the often violent seizures of thousands of white-owned commercial farms began in 2000, which disrupted the agriculture-based economy.
President Robert Mugabe blames the economic meltdown on Western economic sanctions and erratic rains.
Sky-high inflation
In efforts to tame rampant inflation, on June 26 the government ordered price cuts of around 50% on all goods and services, including gasoline and transportation, saying it would subsidise fuel sold at less than the cost of importing it.
The Sunday Mail newspaper, a government mouthpiece, reported bus operators were still buying fuel on the illegal black market at about five times the subsidised price.
Police spokesperson James Sabau said bus passengers often refused to disclose fares to police at road blocks.
"Some of the passengers do not say how much they have been charged, making it difficult to arrest the operators," he said.
At least 7 000 executives, business managers, traders and bus drivers have been arrested in the prices clampdown that has driven corn meal, bread, meat, milk and other staples from the shelves.
Official inflation is given as 4 500%, the highest in the world, though independent estimates put it closer to 9 000%.
Meat price shock
The government at the weekend backed down on a ban on private slaughter houses, which are accused of profiteering, and doubled the price of beef to restore meat supplies.
David Hasluck, head of the Livestock and Meat Advisory Council, told the official media the new beef price still was not as high as the viable levels of neighbouring South Africa and other countries.
Because of acute shortage of commercially raised cattle, attempts were also being made to buy cattle from fiercely proud villagers who saw cattle as a symbol of status.
He said the government was expected to approve raised poultry and pork prices soon.
Cigarettes and state-run newspapers were the latest items in short supply on Sunday.
Beer was trickling back onto the market after a 30% price increase was announced on Friday.
No beer
But the Harare Sports Club, venue of a cricket match between players from Zimbabwe and South Africa, had no beer, the favoured drink of spectators, and no bread rolls or ground meat for burgers.
A restaurant at the cricket ground withdrew its menu on Saturday, having just chicken and potatoes on offer, and on Saturday nearby chicken and pizza takeouts ran out of food and shut down early.
- AP
- AP
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