[gampy]

Everyone likes to speculate what a total economic collapse might look like, but the real thing is easy enough to look at.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070223/ap_ ... e_end_game

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he rate of hyperinflation — running at near 1,600 percent — that economists say soon will be represented by an upright line on a graph has the country in revolt. The number of Zimbabwe dollars that bought a three-bedroom house with a swimming pool and tennis court in 1990 will buy a brick today.

A lifetime public worker's monthly pension can't buy a loaf of bread. Charities have reported depression, suicide and malnutrition among retirees — including a type of vitamin deficiency affecting gums, bones and hair loss.

[gampy]

From other parts of the world we westerners tend to overlook:

From BBC:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')f you are in Zimbabwe - or in other parts of Africa that suffer frequent water shortages and blackouts - how do you cope without water and electricity? What do you do if there is no fuel to run generators? Do you have any survival tips to pass on? Let us know your experiences using the form below.

We in Ghana also suffer water shortages and blackouts, what we do is we normally store water whenever the tap flows and it rains, try get big tanks to store water during the rains by fixing a type of funnel in front of your roof where water can be collected easily and direct it to the tank for storage, as for electricity there is nothing to do about it, we use rechargeable lamps generators are out for some of us because we cannot afford them let alone fuel, candles are also an alternative but somehow dangerous if not well managed, the solar energy can be a very good one if you install the system to store it, expensive initially but very, very economical and useful, thanks
Esther, Accra-Ghana

We in Uganda have a lot of blackouts due to the fall in the level of the Lake. I make sure that when power is around i do the ironing put all the food in the freezer and when they is no power we use a lamp and set around the radio to keep our selfs entertained. We have a time table when the power will be turned off. My wife has a salon so we had to buy a generator but it will be turned on when they is a customer during the time of a blackout. Other time i spend alot of time in the office since they have a generator if i want to watch a football game or go down to the local pub to do so i have turned away the idea of getting cable TV since 15 days in a month we will not have power. Others have bought inverters but the cost is to high for me. Its hard but we have to move along.
Joshua , Kampala Uganda

Lusaka does generally have many power outages which is underatandable given the recent high demand, but to have no power for over two weeks simply boggles the mind. This is even more annoying when you discover that all around you have supply. Its now one month, power is restored after much noise, but the voltage is too low so you cannot use the cooker. We are already used to Charcoal; It saves us from exploding.
KELVIN KALUBA, LUSAKA

Having no water is by far worse than having no electricity. Not being able to flush the toilet, wash the dishes, brush my teeth, wash clothes, or anything, is intolerable. We take containers every day to those who have water and fill them up so that at least we can cook and drink. The washing is kept to a minimum by reusing cups and plates. It's bloody irritating though.
Harry Davies, Harare, Zimbabwe

To live poverty, to breathe excruciating suffering, to walk pain is indescribable. You realise yu have survived when you wake up the next day. Honestly I don't know how i manage but i know i always wake up the morrow
i prefer to be anonymous, Gweru , Zimbabwe

First the water problem that is being experianced in Zimbabwe is in Bulawayo and this is as a result of the failer to implement the zambezi water project that could have saved Bulawayo from the trammers that they are facing now. As a Zimbabwe the only advice i can give is to return to the drawing board and look at the zambezi water project again.
Mr. E.N , Bulawayo, Zimbabwe