Just witnessed some interesting happenings in the land of Ngwazi
There is no fuel just like Comrade Bob’s a while a go there are big lines for fuel when there are rumors it will come in some station, the delivery is made from Dar or Beira mostly in 6000ltrs tankers.
There is a serious power rationing (constant blackouts) no power and most establishments are relying on generators but last two days I have not work as most places I stayed had no diesel to power the generator.
The local airline has been grounded (MQ) I hear because it is unable to pay financiers, servicing and parts. But very interesting they have a super and running presidential jet.
On two occasions in last one month I traveled in and out of the country I was unlucky because the president was either arriving or leaving hence KQ help up in air for 30-45 minutes. They do the dances in the craft parking, and mount a guard of honor.

There is a big forex (dollar) shortage and for importers or foreign travels you apply to central bank for allocation if you are lucky. Black market in November was 200-220 and official rate from the bank is 165
There are indicators that supplies in the shops are dwindling hence potential market
The catch is the demand for supplies’ could be there but how does one obtain forex to buy more as sales are in local currency? How do they do it in Juba?
UK and US have suspended support and the country expelled UK ambassador
Their next election is 2014 but every day they are in campaign mood more than their Hague clients
After witnessing all this I am left wondering with the current politicking could we be headed same route. The country right now have no export commodity (commercial) to write home about after tobacco collapse and being land locked does not help them either.

In most African countries the leadership we have is painfully and exceptionally out of tune with reality and often clueless on how to run a government (just to use diplomatic and acceptable words).

Most systems work by accident and not by design.

Even with the so termed stable and growing economies like Kenya it doesn't take much to realize that they are making some serious blanders amidst the "progress".