“ LET’S MAKE A PLAN”

While exploring southern Africa during the last few months, I have repeatedly been told of Zimbabwe, for a raft of very good reasons and a handful of not-so-good reasons. It’s one of the most beautiful countries on the continent, I have been told, and the locals are extremely friendly. Unfortunately, it’s also extremely corrupt, and on my travels I was glued to the radio to hear the news of the military coup which had removed long-standing dictator Robert Mugabe from power.

The arrival of Emmerson Mnangagwa in his place has brought some stability, but the economy remains in crisis. Food and fuel shortages, riots in the main cities over sudden price increases and harsh crackdowns have meant that the notion of a bright and prosperous future is still somewhat contested. Still, this is what I experienced on my visit, and it’s not all bad.

Diving in

After leaving Mozambique, we climb up and up into the mountains of Eastern Zimbabwe, and set up camp on the edge of the beautiful town of Chimanimani. The town itself is small enough to walk around in ten minutes, so we set about learning how money works in this country, and then buying a few supplies.

After a very rocky monetary history, Zimbabwe is currently using what they call “bond notes” - which look like money, and are supposed to be of equal value to the US Dollar. (More on that later).