So we woke up one day in early May to the horrifying announcement that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe would introduce the Bond Note. Now you have to understand the panic that ensued amongst Harare citizens, however, after the 2008 Bond note, we designed options.
Just in case you miraculously missed 2008, here are a few things Hararians can do to get hard cash.
Use anything besides hard cash when you can
Being the innovative Zimbabweans we are, we know how to hold on to our cash. “Mari haibude zvekumhanya“(money shouldn’t come out too quickly)–so they say. Now we are finding ways of bartering, using plastic money (in whatever form that is) and making our own products and services for personal consumption. This has been a tradition passed down from generation to generation.
Swipe people’s groceries
You can hound people in the store if you have plastic money and run after the ones with cash. Swipe a loaf of bread for someone with a dollar, then they give you their cash. You may annoy the teller, but all is well. If you’re lucky, someone could be buying significant groceries with cash, or you can swipe for many people if you need to make a set amount to buy your zvihuta from your neighbour who does not take plastic money.
Sell food
The best way to make hard cash is to receive money. One thing that people need daily is food in whatever form. People pay cash for food, especially fast food. Let’s not go all gourmet on each other, sadza nezvihuta (sadza and quail), or nemazondo (trotters), matumbu (intestines), muboora (pumpkin leaves) count as fast food meals. Hey, even biscuits, jiggies and dragon energy drink count. Of course you need council permits to sell these.
Sell Airtime
Well, let’s keep it legal shall we. Though not very profitable, you can get hard cash from selling Artime. Getting hard cash a dollar at a time works wonders, with very minimal labour too. Transfer your money to a bulk airtime agent and get airtime scratch cards/juice cards (whatever you call it in your neck of the woods) and get your money $1 at a time.
Buy a kombi
If you thought a $1 at a time was little, what about 50 cents? Think of it as a numbers game. The most cash is found in public transport. Make your money 50 cents at a time, by buying a commuter omnibus a.k.a. kombi. This amount may sound insignificant, but these guys average $80 a day in hard cash. The main downside is the $8,000 investment for buying the commuter omnibus.
Be a tout!
No start up capital? It’s ok, as long as you have a voice and like shouting all day you are set. Wikipedia defines a tout as “any person who solicits business or employment in a persistent and annoying manner”. So this is how it works, get to a bus terminus, where people already know where they are going and bug and pester them by calling out the obvious and get 50 cents every time the Kombi fills up. This must be the easiest way to make money…they make an average of $30 per day in cash.
