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James Murehwa, Zimbabwe: "Very few people have acquired the wealth I have"

A street scene in Harare, Zimbabwe 12 July 2007. Because of the high inflation one has to carry a huge some of money only to buy one item. The Government has launched "Operation Reduce Prices", compelling businesses to slash prices by fifty percent in a b Antony Kaminju/IRIN
    HARARE

    James Murehwa, 32, is a foreign currency dealer on the illegal parallel market. He hopes President Robert Mugabe will be re-elected in the 29 March elections.

    "I completed high school in 1998 and since then I have been a foreign currency dealer. I did not go for any professional training because I did not have anybody to finance further studies.

    "While I do not agree with the policies of the present government, I realise that my trade is thriving in an abnormal economic environment … I own two top of the range vehicles and an apartment, which I have just paid for. Very few people of my age in formal employment have acquired the kind of wealth I have.

    "I have also started importing vehicles for local companies which have no foreign currency. I then charge them very high prices in local currency, buy foreign currency from fellow dealers, then import more vehicles.

    "I will certainly vote for ZANU-PF and Mugabe and I know many fellow forex dealers who would prefer the status quo to remain. If the situation normalises, then most of us will be stranded because [our lack of educational qualifications] would make it difficult to be absorbed into formal employment.

    "I think it will be a while before the situation becomes completely normal. [But] the only difference may be that we will no longer be making the super profits that we have been making. Zimbabweans are survivors. We will come up with an alternative for making money."

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    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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