Life in Zimbabwe??
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2013
Location: Th Midlands, UK
Posts: 3
Life in Zimbabwe??
Hi All,
I've read through some of the posts on here about life in Zim but all seem to be a little dated (2011) so I wondered if I could find out what life is like there nowadays?
I'll try and explain our situation... Bear with me!
My other halves (Zim National living in UK on a Greek passport) father (Also Zim National who lives between Greece and the UK) would like to reinstate his transport business (10 trucks). His daughter and other son would run a hub in SA while myself (British National) and my OH would run the main hub in Zim.
Both myself and OH have worked in the transport industry in the UK for many years so this would not be something completely new to us.
The business would be based in Harare. We would live somewhere near to the business.
We have a 6 year old son who is on medication for petite mal seizures (a form of Epilepsy).
I would like to know how much schooling costs per term / year.
Would we be able to get our son's medication sent over from the UK?
How much is the medical insurance?
How much is house rental? And the safest area to live?
Are the shelves stocked up now or are there still problems getting basics?
What is the fuel situation like now?
Are there still power cuts? How often?
Work Permits - How do I get one? Easy / Hard to get? How long do they last? How long does it take to get one?
Crime / Safety in Harare??
I would especially like to hear from British Expats living or have lived in Zim about their experiences and how they adapt to life there.
Thank you in advance!
I've read through some of the posts on here about life in Zim but all seem to be a little dated (2011) so I wondered if I could find out what life is like there nowadays?
I'll try and explain our situation... Bear with me!
My other halves (Zim National living in UK on a Greek passport) father (Also Zim National who lives between Greece and the UK) would like to reinstate his transport business (10 trucks). His daughter and other son would run a hub in SA while myself (British National) and my OH would run the main hub in Zim.
Both myself and OH have worked in the transport industry in the UK for many years so this would not be something completely new to us.
The business would be based in Harare. We would live somewhere near to the business.
We have a 6 year old son who is on medication for petite mal seizures (a form of Epilepsy).
I would like to know how much schooling costs per term / year.
Would we be able to get our son's medication sent over from the UK?
How much is the medical insurance?
How much is house rental? And the safest area to live?
Are the shelves stocked up now or are there still problems getting basics?
What is the fuel situation like now?
Are there still power cuts? How often?
Work Permits - How do I get one? Easy / Hard to get? How long do they last? How long does it take to get one?
Crime / Safety in Harare??
I would especially like to hear from British Expats living or have lived in Zim about their experiences and how they adapt to life there.
Thank you in advance!
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 256
Re: Life in Zimbabwe??
Hi All,
I've read through some of the posts on here about life in Zim but all seem to be a little dated (2011) so I wondered if I could find out what life is like there nowadays?
I'll try and explain our situation... Bear with me!
My other halves (Zim National living in UK on a Greek passport) father (Also Zim National who lives between Greece and the UK) would like to reinstate his transport business (10 trucks). His daughter and other son would run a hub in SA while myself (British National) and my OH would run the main hub in Zim.
Both myself and OH have worked in the transport industry in the UK for many years so this would not be something completely new to us.
The business would be based in Harare. We would live somewhere near to the business.
We have a 6 year old son who is on medication for petite mal seizures (a form of Epilepsy).
I would like to know how much schooling costs per term / year.
Would we be able to get our son's medication sent over from the UK?
How much is the medical insurance?
How much is house rental? And the safest area to live?
Are the shelves stocked up now or are there still problems getting basics?
What is the fuel situation like now?
Are there still power cuts? How often?
Work Permits - How do I get one? Easy / Hard to get? How long do they last? How long does it take to get one?
Crime / Safety in Harare??
I would especially like to hear from British Expats living or have lived in Zim about their experiences and how they adapt to life there.
Thank you in advance!
I've read through some of the posts on here about life in Zim but all seem to be a little dated (2011) so I wondered if I could find out what life is like there nowadays?
I'll try and explain our situation... Bear with me!
My other halves (Zim National living in UK on a Greek passport) father (Also Zim National who lives between Greece and the UK) would like to reinstate his transport business (10 trucks). His daughter and other son would run a hub in SA while myself (British National) and my OH would run the main hub in Zim.
Both myself and OH have worked in the transport industry in the UK for many years so this would not be something completely new to us.
The business would be based in Harare. We would live somewhere near to the business.
We have a 6 year old son who is on medication for petite mal seizures (a form of Epilepsy).
I would like to know how much schooling costs per term / year.
Would we be able to get our son's medication sent over from the UK?
How much is the medical insurance?
How much is house rental? And the safest area to live?
Are the shelves stocked up now or are there still problems getting basics?
What is the fuel situation like now?
Are there still power cuts? How often?
Work Permits - How do I get one? Easy / Hard to get? How long do they last? How long does it take to get one?
Crime / Safety in Harare??
I would especially like to hear from British Expats living or have lived in Zim about their experiences and how they adapt to life there.
Thank you in advance!
I would like to know how much schooling costs per term / year. Good school - about $3000US per term. Education is bad there unless you are in St Johns, St Georges, Peterhouse etc They cost.
Would we be able to get our son's medication sent over from the UK?Not legally and you will find it very difficult to get medication or proper care. There is one neurologist still working - name of Auchterlonie. Great guy but getting on.
How much is the medical insurance? Not too bad on cost, but it doesn't cover everything - $150 per month give or take
How much is house rental? And the safest area to live?Plenty of good area's to live. Safe? Make sure you have high walls and an electric fence with burglar bars on the house and you will be fine. It's not as bad as SA at all.
Are the shelves stocked up now or are there still problems getting basics?Your definition of "basics" is going to be different to anothers. Shops are full, as they use US$ but some stuff is hard to find and comes in ebs and flows.
What is the fuel situation like now? For the most part fine but you get odd occassions where there is nothing for two or three days
Are there still power cuts? How often? Yes and often depending on the area. You will need a generator. Probably 7KVa at least so keep around $5000 for that.
Work Permits - How do I get one? Easy / Hard to get? How long do they last? How long does it take to get one? All sorts of ways. money talks.
Crime / Safety in Harare??Downtown it's not safe to walk about. Borrowdale - absolutely fine. Just be aware.
I would especially like to hear from British Expats living or have lived in Zim about their experiences and how they adapt to life there.
Your biggest consideration should be taking your son from the UK to Zim where the education will not be as good, the health care minimal and the risks far more. I love the place but would not even bring up a child there unless I had no option. Not until things change dramatically.