James Murehwa, Zimbabwe: "Very few people have acquired the wealth I have"

James Murehwa, 32, is a foreign currency dealer on the illegal parallel market. He hopes President Robert Mugabe will be re-elected in the 29 March elections.

"I completed high school in 1998 and since then I have been a foreign currency dealer. I did not go for any professional training because I did not have anybody to finance further studies.

"While I do not agree with the policies of the present government, I realise that my trade is thriving in an abnormal economic environment … I own two top of the range vehicles and an apartment, which I have just paid for. Very few people of my age in formal employment have acquired the kind of wealth I have.

"I have also started importing vehicles for local companies which have no foreign currency. I then charge them very high prices in local currency, buy foreign currency from fellow dealers, then import more vehicles.

"I will certainly vote for ZANU-PF and Mugabe and I know many fellow forex dealers who would prefer the status quo to remain. If the situation normalises, then most of us will be stranded because [our lack of educational qualifications] would make it difficult to be absorbed into formal employment.

"I think it will be a while before the situation becomes completely normal. [But] the only difference may be that we will no longer be making the super profits that we have been making. Zimbabweans are survivors. We will come up with an alternative for making money."

Source: IRIN