Finding Beauty in Resilience — The Story of the Zimbabwean Economy
“When I look at the struggles and conflicts a developing country faces, I don’t pity the people, as a matter of fact I admire them. Even amongst struggle, there is beauty in resilience.” -Sonia Nhira
I remember this one time when I was at a youth conference with one of my colleagues from the Academy. Through random conversation, we started talking about the economy of Zimbabwe wherein which he asked whether or not it was true that Zimbabweans were paying school fees using cows and goats due to the liquidity crisis present in the country. I remember saying that yes this was all true for certain parts of the nation. I also remember feeling slightly teary-eyed as I pondered about the ramifications of our current economic decline on our most valuable resource the very people of Zimbabwe, my people.
I began sharing more about the hyperinflation that had occurred in the nation and how I felt it was extremely important that I as a Zimbabwean finance enthusiast/accountant-in-training, be a part of the conversation and the change that would accelerate economic upliftment for Zimbabweans. For me, it has always been about seeing the average Zimbabwean have the opportunity to pursue an education, have healthcare, acquire clean water and food, and improve their quality of life. That’s all I ask for — for them to all have, at the very least, a chance — a chance for a better life.
Nonetheless, he then began to ask me what exactly had caused this downturn and how exactly had it resulted in the current liquidity crisis. In my mind I began to think to myself, well that’s an easy question! But as I began to answer the question, I soon realized that my answer had more questions than it had answers — that is, I honestly did not fully understand the sequence of events that had caused the financial crisis in Zimbabwe. It seemed that the twelve years spent studying the intricacies of how the American economy works had left me clueless about my own.
I once met this lady and told her that I came from Zimbabwe. At this, I remember her saying, “Oh, Zimbabwe! I know that place, that’s where the hyperinflation happened right?” To that statement, I replied, “ Oh, how did you know about the hyperinflation of Zimbabwe?” But in my head, I was thinking to myself, “I wonder why this was the first thing we think about when thinking about Zimbabwe?” I soon discovered that she had learned about the country’s situation in university and Zimbabwe had been a case study on hyperinflation.
I don’t blame her or anyone for thinking this way because this is the truth of what happened. But more than just the truth and the facts and the numbers lies the people who had to endure the consequences of this inflation. The children who had to drop out of school, the families whose savings disappeared overnight, the lack of basic items on the store shelves — these are the stories beyond the “case study” and these are the stories that aren’t always talked about.
So I have begun a journey of understanding the Zimbabwean economy. After all, we were the first hyperinflation of the 21st century so technically speaking we are pretty unique people. Maybe there is a larger lesson to be learned from all that has happened in Zimbabwe, maybe it's about time we see change for the people of this beautiful country.
Here begins my journey on the history of the Zimbabwean economy — a journey whose purpose is simple — understanding what happened so that we can determine what we can maybe do better for the future … because the people of Zimbabwe matter.
Join me.
