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Harare diary: How Zimbabwe has changed Harare diary: How Zimbabwe has changed
(about 9 hours later)
During Zimbabwe's last election and the chaos of the following year, a professional living and working in the capital, Harare, wrote a diary for the BBC about life in the city and what it was like to live with record hyperinflation.During Zimbabwe's last election and the chaos of the following year, a professional living and working in the capital, Harare, wrote a diary for the BBC about life in the city and what it was like to live with record hyperinflation.
Esther (not her real name), who is now 33, picks up her pen again as Zimbabweans go back to the polls to describe what has changed in the nearly four years since her last entry.Esther (not her real name), who is now 33, picks up her pen again as Zimbabweans go back to the polls to describe what has changed in the nearly four years since her last entry.
The election heralds the end of the power-sharing deal between President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the Movement of Democratic Change led by the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. The election heralds the end of the power-sharing deal between President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the Movement of Democratic Change led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
I distinctly recall buying 12 loaves of bread in Messina, the South African town bordering Zimbabwe, and how good it felt to eat it back in Harare, and how a cousin was elated when I gave her one loaf as a gift.I distinctly recall buying 12 loaves of bread in Messina, the South African town bordering Zimbabwe, and how good it felt to eat it back in Harare, and how a cousin was elated when I gave her one loaf as a gift.
She said, "My children will be so happy!" She said: "My children will be so happy!"
That was us in 2008, struggling for everything - no water in our taps, constant power cuts, unending fuel and bank queues, and most of all, no food in the shops, not even bread.That was us in 2008, struggling for everything - no water in our taps, constant power cuts, unending fuel and bank queues, and most of all, no food in the shops, not even bread.
We had to go down to South Africa or Botswana to buy basics.We had to go down to South Africa or Botswana to buy basics.
Now I have the choice of white, brown, whole-wheat, rye, brioche, garlic, flat breads… Life has changed.Now I have the choice of white, brown, whole-wheat, rye, brioche, garlic, flat breads… Life has changed.
Back then everyone struggled - the cousin I mentioned above lives in the upmarket northern suburbs of Harare.Back then everyone struggled - the cousin I mentioned above lives in the upmarket northern suburbs of Harare.
But it's really difficult for those who don't earn much.But it's really difficult for those who don't earn much.
Before we abandoned our own currency to take up the US dollar and South African rand in 2009 (we use any kind of money, but mostly those two) you could at least trade in currency - albeit illegally, to generate a bit of money.Before we abandoned our own currency to take up the US dollar and South African rand in 2009 (we use any kind of money, but mostly those two) you could at least trade in currency - albeit illegally, to generate a bit of money.
If a relative in the diaspora sent say $50 (£32), and that was changed $5 at a time into Zimbabwean dollars, a family could last the month, paying for utilities, rent and food.If a relative in the diaspora sent say $50 (£32), and that was changed $5 at a time into Zimbabwean dollars, a family could last the month, paying for utilities, rent and food.
Now $50 is rent for one room in a high density area. So life is tougher for low earners.Now $50 is rent for one room in a high density area. So life is tougher for low earners.
We had the 2008 polls amid all these shortages. How the president survived the election is a wonder.We had the 2008 polls amid all these shortages. How the president survived the election is a wonder.
Double takeDouble take
We're going back to the polls, with three weeks' notice.We're going back to the polls, with three weeks' notice.
When the announcement came through we were all pretty much shocked. I honestly thought we'd back track and reschedule. But we're going ahead!When the announcement came through we were all pretty much shocked. I honestly thought we'd back track and reschedule. But we're going ahead!
It's so different from the last elections, it's all very quiet!It's so different from the last elections, it's all very quiet!
No reports of atrocities in the rural areas, no rumours of army bases, no certificates for having been beat up. No reports of atrocities in the rural areas, no rumours of army bases, no certificates for having been beaten up.
I was so very fearful of that.I was so very fearful of that.
Instead, I saw women in their red T-shirts leaving the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party's headquarters just the other day; because they know no-one will beat them up for doing so.Instead, I saw women in their red T-shirts leaving the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party's headquarters just the other day; because they know no-one will beat them up for doing so.
The most amazing thing for me has been hearing opposition party adverts on live radio. I did a double take the first time. The most amazing thing for me has been hearing party adverts other than from Zanu-PF on live radio. I did a double take the first time.
We have two main parties here, and both seem to have mass produced T-shirts and caps with their tag lines. They are everywhere!We have two main parties here, and both seem to have mass produced T-shirts and caps with their tag lines. They are everywhere!
And we're seeing the products of Photoshop with the incumbent airbrushed and cropped to the point where he looks like someone else.And we're seeing the products of Photoshop with the incumbent airbrushed and cropped to the point where he looks like someone else.
I've heard and laughed over so many comments on this poster: "Looks like his younger brother, maybe it's a picture from the 1980s? His own likeness doesn't inspire confidence - he's now too old" and so on.I've heard and laughed over so many comments on this poster: "Looks like his younger brother, maybe it's a picture from the 1980s? His own likeness doesn't inspire confidence - he's now too old" and so on.
All this in hushed tones and behind closed doors, mocking him is still a punishable offense - that hasn't changed.All this in hushed tones and behind closed doors, mocking him is still a punishable offense - that hasn't changed.
It has been said the youth will determine this one.It has been said the youth will determine this one.
I'm still young, I believe I fit into this group.I'm still young, I believe I fit into this group.
I'm a university graduate renting a house in an ok neighbourhood, driving, like most people my age, an ex-Japanese import that came in with 100,000km on the clock. I'm a university graduate renting a house in an OK neighbourhood, driving, like most people my age, an ex-Japanese import that came in with 100,000km on the clock.
I am working, which makes me part of a tiny 7-10% of the population.I am working, which makes me part of a tiny 7-10% of the population.
Our employment rate is the unemployment rate of other countries. That is massive and unacceptable really.Our employment rate is the unemployment rate of other countries. That is massive and unacceptable really.
So you can imagine how the youth have been talking ahead of polling day.So you can imagine how the youth have been talking ahead of polling day.
We want a working economy; we want jobs that provide full employment.We want a working economy; we want jobs that provide full employment.
We want to move out of rented apartments and cottages and move into houses with affordable mortgages.We want to move out of rented apartments and cottages and move into houses with affordable mortgages.
We want security, freedom of association and speech.We want security, freedom of association and speech.
We are part of the global village with internet on our phones, so we want what every other young person out there wants.We are part of the global village with internet on our phones, so we want what every other young person out there wants.
I haven't come across anyone who has really studied a single manifesto to help them decide.I haven't come across anyone who has really studied a single manifesto to help them decide.
Maybe I move in the wrong circles?Maybe I move in the wrong circles?
Anyway, from where I stand this one is about gut feeling - who will give me what I want?Anyway, from where I stand this one is about gut feeling - who will give me what I want?
Forget the catch words on the posters, in the radio and TV ads - those could well have been a waste of money.Forget the catch words on the posters, in the radio and TV ads - those could well have been a waste of money.
I think minds were made up a long time ago, and we'll see how it goes. I hope they don't make us wait for the results for five weeks like they did after the first round in 2008!I think minds were made up a long time ago, and we'll see how it goes. I hope they don't make us wait for the results for five weeks like they did after the first round in 2008!