Zimbabwe’s crisis has now reached the tipping point, a spokesperson for the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) warned on Tuesday as a local consumer watchdog said the cost of living had climbed 30% in a month.
”It is now clear that Zimbabwe’s crisis has reached the tipping point,” said the MDC’s Nelson Chamisa who said bread was now ”as scarce as gold”.
Food shortages have worsened since July following President Robert Mugabe’s controversial order that all prices be slashed by at least 50%.
Most basics are now only available on the expensive black market.
Many Zimbabweans say they are surviving on vegetables.
Chamisa whose party is currently involved in delicate South African-brokered talks with Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF also pointed to widespread power failures which have crippled hospitals, schools, universities and industry.
”They [the ruling party] are not worried about our suffering,” the spokesperson said.
His comments came as the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) reported a 30% surge in the cost of living for a family of six, up to 21,7-million Zimbabwe dollars (officially worth $723) in September.
Senior teachers report that their take-home pay that month was just Z$4-million.
The CCZ said there had been a 222% rise in the cost of the staple maize meal, while rentals have surged by an average of 34%. – Sapa-DPA