So, if you haven't already heard, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has once again devalued the currency, this time taking off 10 zeros.  So, what was 10,000,000,000 (10Bil) now becomes 1 Zimbabwe dollar.  The exchange rate to the US dollar just prior to revaluation was about 1 trillion to 1USD (using the RTGS or Bank Transfer rate).  If that sounds confusing it is because it is...  very confusing.  Because of the cash shortages, there have been two different rates on the parallel market (aka black market).  The higher rate (Bank Transfer) was in some cases 10 times higher than the cash rate (which ranged between 100Bil - 500Bil?).  "Why," you ask?  Well, checks take about 10 days to clear, bank transfers take over a week to be completed, sometimes as long as 2 weeks, and even if you had money in your account you were only allowed do withdraw 100Bil per day (that is 10 cents or 1 dollar, depending you which rate you use).&am ... Read More »

So I had yet more computer troubles.  To fill you in on the gaps, my computer stopped working in December when Kayle's parents came out for a visit.  The warranty had ended about 6 months prior, so there was not much that could be done except to get a new computer.  As you might imagine, this can be rather difficult in Zimbabwe as anything electronic (let alone a computer) is extremely expensive, selling for double than it would anywhere else.  This is due to a couple of reasons, the first being sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by England, the US, EU, Australia, etc.  Secondly, the government has recently been charging ridiculous import duty on items, in some cases 100% in foreign currency.  So, what would cost $1000 USD anywhere else would cost a Zimbabwean $2000 USD because of government greed.

Well, anyway Ken (Kayle's dad) and I had to make a quick trip to South Africa.  We ordinarily make trips over the border to buy ... Read More »