2007年VOA标准英语-Zimbabweans Abroad Find Creative Ways to Suppor

By Tendai Maphosa
London
18 June 2007

Many Zimbabweans have left home in pursuit of better lives elsewhere, as the country's economic meltdown worsens. From London, Tendai Maphosa looks at how some of them are finding innovative¹ ways to help those they left behind.

The economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe has led to an exodus² of an estimated three million skilled and unskilled workers from the country, mostly to South Africa and Britain.

As Zimbabweans increase their earning power abroad, they are finding creative ways to help out their loved ones at home.

A spokesperson for a Zimbabwean-owned company based in Britain told VOA that it transfers thousands of pounds every week to Zimbabwe through deposits into the company's account or by making an Internet banking³ transfer directly to a person's bank account in Zimbabwe.

By making such transactions, the Zimbabwean government, chronically⁴ short of foreign exchange due to its overvalued currency, is cut out of the large amounts of cash sent to Zimbabweans. As a result, the money goes directly into the pockets of Zimbabweans without them having to pay large transaction fees or higher bank rates.

Daniel, a Zimbabwean who has lived and worked in Britain for the past five years, explains.

"If you do it officially through the banks, they are going to short change you in the sense that the bank rate is not as good as what these money changers give us," he said.

coupons6 in Harare, after receiving them from a relative in London via Mukuru.com, 12 Jun 2007 " hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070628/1444020.jpg" width="207" vspace="2" border="0" />

Unidentified man inspects his fuel coupons in Harare, after receiving them from a relative in London via Mukuru.com, 12 Jun 2007

With gas a scarce commodity in Zimbabwe, London-based Web site Mukuru.com offers an alternative to long lines at gas stations short of fuel.

Mukuru.com founder⁷ Rob, who asked VOA to protect his identity, explains how people get privately⁸ imported fuel in Zimbabwe.

"They pay for say 60 liters of fuel. Like any e-commerce Web site, like Amazon or eBay you got a shopping cart, you add some fuel to your shopping cart and then you proceed to the checkout," said Rob. "There is one additional step on Mukuru, when we ask for the recipient's details you specify⁹ their mobile number and instantly you can pay with credit card or Pay Pal¹⁰, wire transfers or cash deposit instantly. You pay for this order and SMS will land on your recipient's handset in Harare and they can go to our coupon⁵ office and collect the fuel."

Rob's company also pays for satellite television subscriptions¹¹. These must be paid for in foreign currency as the satellite company is based in South Africa. Satellite television has become an important alternative source of information as the government has a monopoly on the electronic media in Zimbabwe.

Rob's growing company is expanding to other African countries and will include ways to pay for pay-as-you-go mobile phones from Britain for those back home.

University of Zimbabwe economist¹² Tony Hawkins told VOA that a study by the institution carried out two years ago, showed that about half of the urban population are reliant to some extent on money from the diaspora.

"With the collapse¹³ of the Zimbabwe dollar, the one way you can stay ahead of the game is to bring in money from outside, change it on the parallel market and then you can afford to live," said Hawkins. "That is why the best lifestyles are those enjoyed by the expatriate community, the diplomats¹⁴, and the so-called aid agencies who are bringing in money from outside changing it on the parallel market. Things are cheap in Zimbabwe if you are paying in foreign currency."

Hawkins added that money from the diaspora is keeping a lot of businesses afloat.

1 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

2 exodus   

v.大批离去，成群外出

参考例句：

• The medical system is facing collapse because of an exodus of doctors.由于医生大批离去，医疗系统面临崩溃。
• Man's great challenge at this moment is to prevent his exodus from this planet.人在当前所遇到的最大挑战，就是要防止人从这个星球上消失。

3 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

4 chronically   

ad.长期地

参考例句：

• Similarly, any pigment nevus that is chronically irritated should be excised. 同样，凡是经常受慢性刺激的各种色素痣切勿予以切除。
• People chronically exposed to chlorine develop some degree of tolerance. 人长期接触氯气可以产生某种程度的耐受性。

5 coupon   

n.息票，配给票，附单

参考例句：

• The coupon can be used once only.此优惠券只限使用一次。
• I have a coupon for ten pence off a packet of soap.我有一张优惠券买一盒肥皂可以便宜十便士。

6 coupons   

n.礼券( coupon的名词复数 )；优惠券；订货单；参赛表

参考例句：

• The company gives away free coupons for drinks or other items. 公司为饮料或其它项目发放免费赠券。 来自辞典例句
• Do you have any coupons? 你们有优惠卡吗？ 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 口语

7 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

8 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

9 specify   

vt.指定，详细说明

参考例句：

• We should specify a time and a place for the meeting.我们应指定会议的时间和地点。
• Please specify what you will do.请你详述一下你将做什么。

10 pal   

n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友

参考例句：

• He is a pal of mine.他是我的一个朋友。
• Listen,pal,I don't want you talking to my sister any more.听着，小子，我不让你再和我妹妹说话了。

11 subscriptions   

n.（报刊等的）订阅费( subscription的名词复数 )；捐款；（俱乐部的）会员费；捐助

参考例句：

• Subscriptions to these magazines can be paid in at the post office. 这些杂志的订阅费可以在邮局缴纳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Payment of subscriptions should be made to the club secretary. 会费应交给俱乐部秘书。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

13 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

14 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》