Zimbabweans have expressed shock and alarm at the out-of-control prices in the country. This comes after a diner painfully recounted how she had paid US$517 (R8200) on dinner for only 5 people.
The diner took to social media to lament the exorbitant prices and the ridiculous markups that she encountered.
The woman who uses the Twitter handle @zimbarbiean narrated her encounter at the local restaurant Khaya Nyama Wombles. Writing on social media, she said,
“Pricing in Zim is out of control – dinner for 5 at Wombles? $517. Yes, the food is great, and we know Wombles to be an expensive joint, but let me break it down because 400% markups don’t make sense in my mind.”
She also highlighted some of the prices in USD prevailing at the restaurant compared to other places, as well as the costs of some of the menu items.
“Water – the bottles that go for 70c kuWombles $2
Savannah – goes for like $1.50 ku Wombles $6“Starters start from about $11, and that’s chicken livers where you get 3! 3 livers.
“Now to mains. Cheapest is about $25. I had salmon (for) $40.”
She added that despite the high prices, the restaurant does not give meaningful sides to accompany the meals,
“Mind you, the sides you get complimentary are onions, beans & butternut. If you want ka rice, $2. If you want ka potato, $2.
“CHIPS CHIPS as a SIDE $5 ON TOP OF YOUR $40 main. Am I the only one who doesn’t understand?
“Mind you, the only alcohol (I) had was 1 wine bottle $35 and one $6 Savannah. Dassol.”
She commented that while the restaurant is classy and premium, the prices still shocked her.
“I’m not gonna lie, the food is GREAT, cooked to perfection. Steak melts in your mouth, and they really understand what you mean by ‘medium rare’ which is more than can be said for some of these other joints but $517!
“Waaal – I looked at that bill like HEH.”
Another social media follower also narrated her own similar experience at the same restaurant. @ManaseVicky wrote,
“We took our friends out there, carried $250 USD. We’re sure it would be enough, but when the bill came up, it was 400 plus. Had to go back to the car.
“Taizonyara (We would have been embarassed), but what puzzled me was it was just 4 people, and the boys were drinking ma castle light.”
Many Zimbabweans who read the post expressed shock at the pricing models in the country.
@PeaceMangoma wrote,
Things have really gone out of control overall. If I get charged $40 for the main dish, that should be top top tier joint in the states. But then consider the buying and earning power. In 2019, $100 Would buy you a pick n pay trolley, now 2 or so plastics!
@CliveMasarakufa
The markups are definitely jaw-dropping. Maybe they include the excellence of their craft which is a generally unquantifiable cost consideration. But that only applies to a certain degree and certainly can’t outright justify the sky-high markups.
@lo_nhewe90 commented,
You are so right. How do you justify such? Most of the food they serve is locally sourced. I hope they pay their staff just as much.
@thubamzingwane added,
wait, so some people really spend such amounts in 1 go in this msunu of a country!
However, @Mr_Narcissit begged to differ, saying,
this makes alot of sense
they are correct for charging that amount of money …they should charge more ,
you paid for an experience ,thats it
an experience!!!
@MadziwaMorgen hilariously added
USD517.00 wow, that’s steep by my standards! I can buy a full mombe (cow) USD450.00
iharare
