Harare, Zimbabwe – In Kuwadzana, a high-density residential suburb in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, the day begins as early as 5am for many of the working class – from vegetable sellers to bus conductors, like 19-year-old Thomas Gundawo*.
For loading a seven-seater vehicle after soliciting passengers at the top of his voice at the bus stop, Gundawo makes 100 Zimbabwean dollars ($0.45). By 8am, he would have pocketed only about $3, insufficient to buy food and either broncleer – a street drug mixture of cough syrup with alcohol and codeine – or dagga (marijuana).
