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THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 09 2012 20:03 | LAST UPDATED Feb 09 2012 20:03 |
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Zimbabwe's poverty line shot up by 82,88% as soaring inflation wreaked havoc on daily life, figures from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) showed on Tuesday. A family of five now requires Z$1 715 000 a month to meet its most basic needs, said acting CSO director Moffat Nyoni in a poverty analysis report. That figure is way above average wages for Zimbabweans lucky enough to be formally employed. Farm workers have just had their monthly salary increased to Z$96 000 a month, according to official reports earlier this week. That means that a farm worker would have to work for nearly a year and a half just to meet the poverty line for one month. Zimbabwe's economy has been spiralling deep into chaos since the beginning of a controversial land-reform programme in 2000, which has seen a massive drop in agricultural production, the wholesale flight of foreign investment and the scaring off of the lucrative tourist market. Annual inflation topped 2 200% in March. Analysts on state radio this week forecast the April rate, which has not yet been announced, could reach 3 000%. Rising costs are now affecting all sectors of society. About half the nurses employed at Harare hospitals are choosing not to report for duty because bus fares rose sharply last week, the official Herald newspaper reported on Tuesday. Nurses receive at most Z$800 000 per month. "We are doing all we can to ensure that our health professionals are remunerated in an appropriate manner," said Health Minister David Parirenyatwa.  CONTINUES BELOW "We fully appreciate the hyperinflationary environment we are living in and we would like all our health professionals to be adequately taken care of," he added. -- Sapa-dpa TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
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