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Beatrice Tonhodzayi-Ngondo Make A Difference
I don’t know whether it is just me but it seems like things are tough. Everyone I see around these days is mourning about how scarce money is. Some companies are failing to pay salaries while some domestic workers have been dismissed.
What I used to be able to do with US$100, I just cannot seem to do anymore. In fact, that US$100, which by any standards and in any country is not small change, is fast becoming small change here. I tried to look at prices in the supermarket the other day.

So convinced was I that prices had gone up and been missed somehow. After all, we are used to seeing the experts who monitor the cost of living publish the prices of a basic family package.

But when I began to feel the bite, I had not seen anything to that effect. What I had seen was actually a statement saying inflation had stabilised. I had to go into the shops and physically look at item by item and see whether prices had gone up or not. While doing this, I had not really figured out what I would do if it turned out that prices had gone up. Would I call a press conference and put a stop to all price increases?

Anyway, I did establish that prices were cleverly going up. By adding a dollar there, a couple of cents there, they have managed to hike the prices.

Yes, the experts may not have published a big notice but all one needs is to feel the pinch to know that the cost of living is somewhat going up. The basic groceries for a parent that used to fit quite adequately on US$120 suddenly begin to chew more.

The bills that used to chew US$40 suddenly need US$60. Where you used to go to a restaurant for a meal and spend US$20 apiece and you find you have to spend US$25 apiece you know the heat is on.

I am not the only one who has felt the heat by the way. Everywhere I look these days, people are crying.
Even those who used to be known for splashing are not splashing as much as they used to.

There is a lot of borrowing too. A few days after pay day; it is not unusual to hear some of your friends knocking on your door looking for soft loans.

You begin to wonder; if one is going to start borrowing three days after getting paid, at which point will they be free from debt because as soon as they get their next pay-check they will be broke again, from settling debts accrued from the previous month.
But can you blame a man or woman for trying to get by and put food on the table?

This is why I totally understand the selling craze that has hit Zimbabwe. The other time I had to post on my Facebook wall that I was not buying, no matter what one was selling. I was hoping that by posting it, I could somehow get through to the many sellers in my circles.
Everyone is selling something as Zimbabweans try to deal with the liquidity crunch that is now obviously being felt by all, including some once well-heeled personalities. Of course there are those who, in the midst of this hardship, seem to be doing well as evidenced by the big, flashy cars we see around us.

The rest are selling.
From bosses down to the cleaners, everyone is selling something, whether it is chicken, eggs, mushroom, cabbage, butternut squash, potatoes, brand new clothes, second-hand clothes, herbal products, hair products, make-up or underwear; you name it.

Those of us who don’t sell, are harassed left, right and centre by friends and colleagues who just want you to buy, whether you truly want to or not.

They offer lucrative terms so their prey, in this case the customer, does not say no.
Some people, faced with all this selling, cannot say no. The sad part is that come month-end when they get paid; everything is taken up by debts. But for the sellers, it is survival at all costs. Some have taken to sending images of their wares via WhatsApp.

This is especially common with Zimbabweans resident in the Diaspora.
Those in countries like the United Kingdom and South Africa are the worst when it comes to marketing their products via social networking platforms.

You can regret ever having given someone your contacts as they harass you daily by their aggressive marketing tactics. If you do not watch out, you can be buying something daily.

I almost fell into the trap of hoarding shoes, bags and clothes every two days because of failure to focus. But now I am wiser.
My statement of choice is “If you are all selling to me and expecting me to buy from all of you, how shall I ever make enough so I can sell to you too?”

Everybody is selling such that at times I think the best is just to practice barter trade. If the secretary is selling potatoes and the messenger is selling chicken, they may as well strike some sort of arrangement to exchange. Otherwise who shall buy from who when everyone has become a seller?

After all this is said and done however, you have to give it to the man and woman of this country. No matter how difficult things get, Zimbabweans always find a way.

This is not to absolve our Government of its responsibility to improve our lives though.
We are all anticipating a better life as promised by the Government. In the meantime we hassle because there is honour in sweating so the children can eat.

I see Christmas is almost here. Immediately after that, it will be January and school fees. I can only imagine what sort of ideas are going through the mind of the seller right now.

The difference is in always staying on top. When the going gets tough, you cannot afford to sleep.

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