White starched tablecloths are on a perfectly set table with Italian cutlery. I chose a grilled calamari starter with a slightly tinged orange curry dressing. My main course was a perfect sirloin steak with a brandy and peppercorn sauce served with fresh vegetables. As it was a lunch meeting I stayed on the mineral water. The service was quick an efficient.
The financial director I am trying to recruit arrived in her 8 week old white ML 350 Yengeni. (Mercedes Benz). We spoke about the stock market that appreciated by close on 300% during the last year, and most of the growth occurred in the last month. As I leave the restaurant we pass a school where all children leave in disciplined manner and in full school uniform. The landscape and climate remind me of a time when, as a child, we visited the Kruger Park in South Africa.
This could be the perfect world, however….
In my pocket I have a $ 250 000 000 note, (R 7,50 or USD 1.00). The inflation rate today is approximately 330 000%, and in our board meeting earlier we devised strategies to cope with an anticipated 1 800 000% inflation rate in August. Our HR head explains to me that the entire healthcare system collapsed. She is 36 weeks pregnant.
On the one hand, this place is beyond help. Absolutely hopeless. On the other hand, I decided that I need to put some money in this stock exchange.
We had rigged elections and there are huge confusion about a presidential run off election between Morgan Tsvangerai and Robert Mugabe. On the outskirts of the city ordinary citizens are being beaten and tortured. (There is complete brain failure in some areas as people are being tortured in areas where ZANU PF won the election.) There is no food around and fuel is an luxury. Those who do not have access to foreign exchange starve, and those who have foreign exchange eat calamari and sirloin in restaurants with no prices on the menu.
But I am hopeful for Zimbabwe for the first time is a very long time. What the international media is missing is that ZANU PF is now the opposition in parliament. The MDC has got 109 of 187 seats in parliament. Bob can no longer change the laws to suit his style and run the country as his if is his hunting farm. His children of the revolution are now beginning to apply their minds.
With dramatic growth in global demand for natural resources, fuelled by a huge Chinese appetite, Zimbabwe is a warehouse full of opportunities. The agriculture sector will take longer to recover, but all the potential is there for Zimbabwe to become Africa’s pantry again.
A friend of mine reminded me the other day that nobody will give an honest view on our surroundings or circumstances if it will impact on our social stranding or financial wellbeing. I am trying to prove her wrong. Here is my wish-list for Zimbabwe.
- Robert Mugabe chokes on a chicken bone and meet his ancestors before Monday.
- No run off presidential elections as it can only escalate the violence.
- A Kenya style cooperation between the MDC and ZANU PF that both parties will run the country for a period of two years. This will require a third person to become president for a limited period.
- The stock market to keep on performing above the 1800 000 % pa level.
- My own house boat on Kariba
Anton Roux
CEO: Sub-Saharan Africa
Comments