“TSAONA” is a yesteryear hit song popularised by
Marondera-based outfit Pengaudzoke.
Translated literally, the word means accident or ill luck.
In the song, the group bemoans misfortune — which appears to follow this
imaginary character they sing about, with insurmountable problems piling on one
person, one after the other.
In ghetto lingo, KaTsaona means rationed foodstuffs used as
a stopgap measure. Foodstuffs like mealie meal, sugar, rice, salt and cooking
oil are re-packaged into small packs, mostly in a hamper-like style.
A typical “hamper” of KaTsaona consist mainly of three cups
of mealie meal, kapenta (matemba), 200 to 500ml of cooking oil and a cup of
sugar. All this can be bought with not more than $20, something that a family
of four can live on for a day.
The assumption is that when one buys KaTsaona, they temporarily
cannot afford a whole pack of whatever they require — be it mealie meal, sugar,
meat, tomatoes or even salt.
So, when the ghetto named this stopgap measure Tsaona or
KaTsaona, it was because anybody who resorts to buying foodstuffs packaged this
way would be having serious problems.
As prices of basic commodities continue to sky rocket, it
appears a number of Zimbabweans, if not most, are faced with insurmountable
difficulties.
The austerity measures the country is going through,
coupled with parallel market-pegged exchange rate prices, have condemned a
number of Zimbabweans to this category of people that are stalked by hunger.
KaTsaona packaged foodstuffs, which used to be bought
clandestinely due to their association with extreme poverty, continue to be
purchased secretly, but for different reasons. This time, it is out of fear
that the buyer’s neighbours might know that they actually have food in the
house and come set up camp. Usually, the teeny packs are meant for a single
meal for just two or three people.
Without the enterprising businessman and women that package
foodstuffs in these tiny but affordable packs, most families would be going to
bed on empty stomachs.
A quick survey conducted by The Sunday Mail Society
revealed that despite the health risks, the trend is now popular in most
high-density suburbs in Harare.
In Mbare, Tichafara Nhuridza’s hamper only consists of
mealie meal and kapenta. On request, he can add sliced tomatoes and onions.
“Upfu (mealie meal) is now expensive. Very few people are
still buying a 10kg pack of mealie meal, which now costs as much as $70,” he
said, adding, “If one needs mealie meal, they have to buy it with matemba. This
is the same when one needs a cup of rice, they have to buy it with sugar or cooking
oil.”
This, he said, is done to push volumes and “we also need
quick returns so that we can continue with our business”.
In most high-density suburbs, no one goes hungry as long as
they have a little money on them — thanks to KaTsaona. Another woman, Rumbidzai
Chaota, said KaTsaona is now big business in town.
“Around 4pm, I will be going to town to sell my stuff,” she
said.
Chaota sells pre-cooked roasted fish, cooking oil and
washing soap. She said her wares are selling like hot cakes in Harare’s central
business district.
Prices of food items are now beyond the reach of many
ordinary citizens in the country.
By Friday last week, two litres of cooking oil were priced
at an average of $55 in most supermarkets, while a two kilogramme packet of
sugar was going for $60.
A monthly family food basket now requires as much as $1500,
which is beyond the reach of many at the moment. This has given rise to the
sale of foodstuffs in smaller quantities. Sunday Mail
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