Ever thought of paying your ISP with sugar?

Ever thought of paying for your internet services with sugar? It’s possible but only in Zimbabwe.

South Africa’s 702 talk Radio reported that a leading internet service provider in the troubled African country, Zimbabwe Online, announced today that it will be accepting groceries as payment for services.

The country’s unstable currency has led many businesses to decline the local currency and opt instead for forex or other commodities of value.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was expected to meet opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the next two days in another attempt to break a deadlock over cabinet posts, a senior ruling party official said today.

The Zanu-PF official suggested Mugabe’s patience was running out and a prolonged deadlock could endanger the negotiations. The two sides have been unable to agree on sharing out cabinet posts since an outline power-sharing deal on September 15.

The opposition accuses Mugabe’s party of trying to assign it a junior role in government and says only mediation can break a deadlock in talks. Under the outline agreement, Mugabe will retain the presidency and chair the cabinet, while Tsvangirai heads a council of ministers supervising the cabinet.

Without a breakthrough, Zimbabwe’s economy could worsen still further. The once-prosperous nation is crumbling under inflation of about 11 million% — the highest in the world — and chronic food shortages. Some economists say Zimbabwe’s inflation rate is now over 40 million%. Zimbabweans have to queue for long hours, sometimes overnight, to withdraw money from banks where withdrawal limits have been imposed by the central bank.

By Samuel Mungadze