The Price Of Bread Escalates
The price of bread has escalated to $45 thereby worsening the living standards of the general populace in Zimbabwe.
This comes when the coronavirus-induced lockdown has locked most Zimbabweans away from their sources of income.
Resultantly, some have resorted to finding cheaper foods including sweet potatoes (mbambaira/imbambaila) as alternatives to regular diets.
Some have even reduced the number of meals to two or one while some go for a day without food in the worst-case scenarios.
The government has been criticised for failing to fulfil its pledge to assist the most vulnerable families and groups during the lockdown.
The Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube had announced that the government set aside some money which would see vulnerable families receiving $200 each.
Meanwhile, with the rate at which the local currency is losing value, the money will be useless by the time it will reach the intended beneficiary.
As of 3 June 2020, one United States dollar traded for about $76 (electronic) or $55.4 (cash) on the parallel market which means the $200 cushion is equal to US$3.50 or less.
To make matters worse, local businesses are reportedly rejecting the local currency which they say is not a store of value.
