While our new Prime Minister and unity government pick their way through the rubble of Zimbabwe, a frenzy of chronic overcharging has got underway and it has launched us into a state of super-hyper-inflation.

Leading the pack of thieves are the parastatals and municipalities who must know that accountability is just around the corner and that this is their last chance. Tel One, suppliers of the only fixed line telephones in the country, have increased their price this month by eight thousand percent. Last month phone bills were in Zimbabwe dollars and a residential account was the equivalent of 2 US dollars. This month they have changed to US dollars and are demanding 165 US dollars. There is nothing in writing, its just a matter of pay whatever we say or you'll be disconnected. Despite their demand that we pay in first world currency (i.e. US dollars) they continue to give us fourth world service. Telephone accounts are no longer issued and customers are given no breakdown showing monthly rental, calls made or units used. For most people the amounts being demanded by Tel One are more than their entire monthly income. They are almost twice the 100 US dollar salaries being paid by the Unity Government to soldiers, policemen, teachers and other civil servants.

The electricity suppliers, ZESA, have increased their prices this month by 600 percent and have also converted to US dollars. They too do not provide accounts or statements, have not read household meters for well over a year and offer neither excuse nor explanation for their new prices. Its pay up however much we say or we'll turn you off.

Municipal charges have gone up by 900 %, in US dollars, and the outrage is palpable. No bills are produced and so we don't know how much of the charge is fact and how much is for someone's back pocket. Residential dustbins have not been collected for ten months. In desperation people have taken to dumping their garbage in the bush, under trees or simply on the side of the road. Most suburban street lights have not worked for two or three years, tar roads are a maze of gullies and cavernous potholes and the grass on street corners is over six foot high.

By all accounts the power sharing unity government in Harare is in a perilous place as I write. But while all eyes are on political prisoners, power struggles and battles of will, ordinary people are falling by the wayside. We wait for street level leadership and accountability - its been a long, long time coming.
Until next time.