Villagers exchange livestock for food
Saturday, 12 May 2012 17:55
BY LESLEY WURAYAYI
LOWER GWERU — Most villagers who do not have a source of income in Midlands
province have resorted to barter trade; exchanging grain and other household
provisions for groceries to survive hardships currently bedevilling most
rural communities in the country.
Nomaqwa Sibindi from Lower Gweru in Midlands province, last week, said most
villagers were “buying” basic commodities using grain.
She, however, complained that the buyers, mostly shop owners, were cashing
in on the desperation of poor villagers by not paying the real value of the
grain. We obtain basic commodities such as cooking oil, soap, sugar and
flour in exchange of grain. The shop-owners are cashing-in on our desperate
plight since we are unemployed and have no means of generating cash to buy
the goods at a fair value,” said Sibindi.
Villagers who do not have grain, exchange livestock such as goats, chickens
and sheep for groceries.
Sibindi said: “On average a bar of soap costs about US$2 and a bucket of
maize costs US$4. Shop owners undervalue our grain to US$2 which they later
sell at a profit.”