Jocelyn Dube teaches at a primary school in the mining town of Bindura, 80 km north of the capital, Harare. She is a single parent of a four-year-old son. Dube spoke to IRIN about life in Zimbabwe and the upcoming elections.

“I am currently earning Z$500 million a month which is enough to buy two bottles of cooking oil. Like many Zimbabweans I believe that if the present government is retained, then we will continue to experience hardships. The ruling party will not be able to secure credit lines from international lending institutions and so a ZANU-PF and Robert Mugabe victory will mean another five years of suffering for Zimbabweans.

“I have had to juggle teaching and other informal operations to sustain myself and my son. I am also responsible for the well being of my elderly parents and two younger siblings.

“Apart from teaching I have a little piece of land where I grow vegetables and sell to locals. During school holidays I work as a maid or do other menial jobs especially in Botswana or South Africa. When I return from such jobs, I bring back food for consumption and other products which I resale to workmates, friends and members of my community.

“I have reached a stage where I am not able to cope with high prices and a hyper inflationary environment. I am now mentally and physically drained because of all the work that I have been doing over the years.

“I recently found a teaching post in Mozambique. I am now prepared to go to any country to work and earn a decent living. But as the breadwinner in the family, it pains me that I will have to leave my family at the mercy of a difficult environment while I look for better prospects.

“I am convinced that if a new government came to power, the economic environment would improve within six months.

“If there is a change of government, there will be no need for me to separate from my son by leaving the country. I am convinced that in a short while, the Zimbabwean economy will be one of the strongest in the region meaning we would be able to once again enjoy a decent life style.”

IRIN