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| Africa: Subsaharan |
| 20 fun facts from Mugabe Land |
| 2005-10-08 |
| 1. A Vienna sausage costs more that a three bedroom house cost 25 years ago 2. Fuel has increased by 59,000% in the last 18 months 3. If you want fuel you have to buy foreign currency on the black market (illegal) drive 120 kms, smuggle your cash through an international border, and fill a container. On return you have to pay duty in Zim $ on the fuel you have purchased but you are not allowed to take out sufficient Zim $ to pay the duty anyway 4. In August (if you are lucky) you are advised of the new minimum wages for July . 5. Kariba Bream now costs $1,200,000 per kg which is double the price of imported Hake 6. Fees in Government schools are increased by 1,000% retrospective for 6 months, whilst private schools are restricted from increasing their fees at all 7. Colgate toothpaste in supermarkets is kept locked in a glass display cabinet otherwise it will be stolen 8. Reserve Bank officials enforce laws on illegal currency deals, yet the Bank uses illegally obtained currency to pay satellite television subscriptions 9. New Zealand butter is half the price of Zimbabwe butter 10. Water rationing is introduced four months after the end of the rains when the dams are already almost empty 11. A $10 note is still in circulation and is worth 0,05 of one US cent 12. A $10 note costs over $3,000 to print 13. Toilet paper costs more than $10 a sheet – so it’s cheaper to use the notes 14. Banks charge 300% interest on overdraft but pay 0,001% interest on current account balances 15. It is cheaper to hand deliver mail than to use the postal system 16. Government knocks down houses when there is a housing shortage 17. It can take up to a year to renew a firearms licence which is only valid for three years 18. A replacement drivers’ licence can take up to three years 19. Electricity Supply Commission is unable to send out monthly accounts, so estimates the usage – a previous average usage of $250,000 p.m. is estimated at $24 million 20. A monthly govt. pension of $1350 will buy one small sip of Coke. But this is not an issue because you can’t buy cokes anyway. Pensioners living outside our borders would receive half one US cent per month |
| Posted by:classer |
| #7 what's the sound of two necks snapping? Freedom |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-10-08 23:23 |
| #6 more practical and economical than diesels. Looks like a massive failure of the market. |
| Posted by: Fliger Elgerbunny4444 2005-10-08 22:01 |
| #5 Last commercial steam locomotives were/are built in China, which also has abundant Coal. Norfolk and Southern bought one of the new chinese engines to haul coal in the alleghenies about 1980 or so, it worked fine, more practical and economical than diesels. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2005-10-08 19:31 |
| #4 "Steam Engines?" Y-e-a-a-a-a-a-a-h...they have rocket propelled grenades - ERA 1962-2005. Steam Engines - ERA ...um...stone age? |
| Posted by: OnlySaneAnonymouseLeft 2005-10-08 18:58 |
| #3 #1: And steam locomotives are back in vogue. I looked it up, it's actualy a pretty smart move, the engines are for use as "Tourism and to suppliment aging diesels that are hard to get parts and fuel for due to currency restrictions" (Translation, got no cash for fuel and parts) but the Steam Engine's parts are "localy available." (Low Tech?) Plus they have abundant coal, so it's a really good idea to both solve transportation problems and try to bring in cash bearing tourists to ride the steamers. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2005-10-08 18:47 |
| #2 Unbelievable. And yet, he's *still* breathing! |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2005-10-08 17:13 |
| #1 And steam locomotives are back in vogue. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-10-08 11:26 |