Zimbabwe’s new currency woes hit traditional stores while illegal night bazaars flourish

Associated Press

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — People in Zimbabwe are shunning traditional grocery stores to do their shopping at informal and illegal markets that pop up at night to avoid police raids. The government had hoped the introduction of a new currency in April would resolve a money crisis that has seen southern African countries introduce six currencies. But it’s now depreciating and hurting licensed stores that are forced by law to accept it. Meanwhile, unregulated informal traders charge their goods exclusively in the more stable dollar to make their prices significantly lower. They attract hordes of shoppers while traditional stores face collapse.