As the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic has been impressed upon the minds of Zimbabweans, selfish business people have not taken long to seize the opportunity to make a killing as scores of desperate people try to buy basics in anticipation of a shutdown. A Spar outlet in Gweru is said to be selling 2 litres of cooking oil for $172 ZWL and a sugar for $72 ZWL.

Overprice cooking Oil at Spar Gweru. Pics by K Mugova via Twitter.

Sugar selling for $72. Pic by K Mugova via Twitter.

Some out of touch experts call for ban on imports

Medical expert urges halt on importation of groceries from COVID-19 infected countries.

The Clinical Director at Mpilo Central Hospital Dr. Solwayo Ngwenya says people should stop bringing in stuff such as groceries from COVID-19 infected countries. pic.twitter.com/2zhjddF1xG

— ZiFM Stereo (@ZiFMStereo) March 24, 2020

Frankly while this sounds reasonable it’s incredibly foolish and will just see people starving. Thanks to neglect Zimbabwe cannot meet its own internal needs. A few weeks will see us howling for the borders to be opened as people starve.