Posted on 07/09/2007 6:49:40 PM PDT by blam
Fuel shortage brings Zimbabwe to halt
By Byron Dziva in Harare
Last Updated: 2:03am BST 10/07/2007
Zimbabwe's economy was approaching paralysis yesterday as petrol stations across the country ran dry.
President Robert Mugabe's regime has ordered all retailers to cut fuel prices by 60 per cent, a move that forces them to sell petrol at a loss.
As a result, filling stations across the country have stopped selling altogether and petrol is only available on the black market, at five times the official price.
Without fuel, the entire economy is steadily shutting down.
"It is certainly making a bad situation worse. Many companies will stop functioning," said John Robertson, an independent economist in the capital, Harare.
A bus driver in Harare said: "At the moment, even on the black market, there is nothing."
Basic foodstuffs have already vanished from supermarket shelves thanks to the regime's order that all retail prices should be frozen at their June 18 level.
Inflation has reached such a level that one banana costs the same amount as 15 four-bedroom houses seven years ago. The regime's behaviour has dismayed many business people.
Masimba Kambarami, the chairman of the petroleum association, said: "Fuel is not indigenous, it has to be treated carefully.
"If you arbitrarily introduce new prices you trigger panic buying, then subsequent shortages."
Inflation officially runs at 4,530 per cent - the highest level in the world.
Zim Ping.
I’m amazed the man is still in power. I expected that a coup would have taken him out years ago.
Wasn’t the country already at a halt?
Maybe they mean that even Mugabe can’t get around now.
This sounds like something out own Democrats would do. With the full support, of course, of their DUmmie following.
Fuel Shortage Brings Zimbabwe To Halt
Needless to say “Fuel” is not what brought this country to a halt. Far be it from the MSM to delve into he real reasons however.
Not only in power, the UN just (May) appointed him as the chairmen of their Commission on Sustainable Development!!!
Just breathtaking...and US taxpayer-dollar taking...
Supply, meet demand. Demand, meet supply!
Aren’t dictators great? Could they have done a better job of ruining their country?
Yeah he could have nuked himself I guess.
Bring back imperialism.
Mugabe’s own guards shot up one of his mansions one night when he was away because they couldn’t stand eating any more beans (100% bean-only diet for 12 months straight).
...and his guards are considered rich compared to most Zims.
It would be funny if only real people weren’t suffering so for the delusions of a senile despot and the thugs with whom he has surrounded himself. I don’t think this can go on much longer. But I think I said that same thing at least a year ago.
I thought chicoms had pretty much taken over lots in this country. What’s goin’ on are they working to starve the people to death...so they can bring in their over populated folks from China...somethin’ smells here...now Zim lacks fuel...hmmmm
and there is a handful who feel their nation should do the same...
South Africa? They endorse mugabe...let them have at her!
I’ve been watching Zimbabwe decline steadily since I was there a few years ago. It is tragic to see what one person with unfettered power can do to a whole nation. His demise cannot come swiftly enough. All free peoples should say a prayer for those living under tyranny and oppression - be they in Zimbabwe, N. Korea or thousands of places around the globe.
I can hear Jim Morrison singing “This is the end.....”
Hopefully its for Mugabe but the suffering is reaching the breaking point.
An unarmed citizenry is a docile citizenry.
Ah....
The joys of a Socialist Paradise.
Perhaps Mugabe could extoll on the virtues of taking the land away from the whites again?
Careful! The fat lady ain’t sang yet. This wacko knows no bounds.
Didn't somebody named Jimmah do something similar in the US during the 1970s?
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