Food crisis hits Harare as bread runs out

Original Post Date: 2002-07-03  Posted By: Jan

From the News Archives of: WWW.AfricanCrisis.Org
Date & Time Posted: 7/3/2002 12:59:10 AM
Food crisis hits Harare as bread runs out

Bread ran out in the shops of Harare yesterday as the consequences of President Robert Mugabe’s repressive rule hit his capital, intensifying the misery of residents already reeling from food shortages and hyper-inflation. As food queues grew across the country, a retired doctor turned game rancher became the first American to die in the violence against whites at the heart of the political and economic crisis. Dr Roy Raub, 79, who ran a game hunting ranch next to Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, was found bludgeoned to death after being kidnapped from his townhouse in the city of Bulawayo. His body was found about 80 miles from Bulawayo. Another white farmer, on business in the city, was shot in the leg yesterday.

Police yesterday dismissed both attacks as “non-political” crimes, but the white population is increasingly fearful. Every day the government-controlled media publishes reports about whites – in particular farmers – being responsible for the chronic food shortages. Zimbabwe’s food crisis became all but inevitable after President Mugabe ordered his supporters to move on to commercial farms 28 months ago. Since then the economy has been disintegrating at breakneck speed. Mesheck Sibanda, 34, a labourer, said he was shocked when he arrived to buy half a loaf of bread early yesterday at a supermarket in Harare’s more affluent northern suburbs and found the shelves bare. “I will eat a banana today. That’s all. I don’t care any more because we are all going to die,” he said.

Bakers say they are short of flour and have no salt, which is imported. Mr Sibanda and millions of other Zimbabweans have had to do without their staple food, maize meal since February, although occasional supplies are available on the black market, at up to five times its normal price. Supermarket chains say demand for bread soared as maize meal disappeared, and that wheat, grown by white commercial farmers, will run out this month. The Grain Producers’ Association says the next crop, a third of its normal size, will not be harvested until late October. Thousands of shops in rural areas ran out of bread weeks ago as bakers made orders in the cities their priority. A source in the industry said more bread would probably reappear on supermarket shelves later this week as the government has seized thousands of tons of salt from importers negotiating for an increase in the state-controlled price.

Dr John Makumbe, an independent political scientist, said that people would not take to the streets yet. “There is still a bit of a comfort zone, and they think it is better to preserve what they have than knock it down. Electricity is still here, so is water. The police are now outnumbered at food queues, but there is still a way to go.” He said the opposition Movement for Democratic Change was desperate not to be banned and lacked the leadership to head mass protests. “Fear is pervasive. However it dissipates with the first blow, and when the first person throws a stone, the powder keg of peoples’ frustrations will blow. Mugabe’s regime is desperate, but are hoping this explosion will take place so they can teach the people a lesson.” Despite six million people, half the population, in need of food, Dr Makumbe believed that Mugabe was intent on forcing white farmers from their homesteads by August 8. At least 60 per cent of the 3,000 white farmers still in Zimbabwe were supposed to stop farming last week. They have a further 45 days to pack up and leave their homes.

Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
By Peta Thornycroft
Published:Tue 2-Jul-2002

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