Zimbabwe’s surging internet costs wreak havoc on small businesses

MUTARE, Zimbabwe: When a sharp hike in Zimbabwe’s internet costs drove Joyce Kapvumfuti’s small catering enterprise offline for a week, orders for her wedding cakes, business lunches and frosted cupcakes collapsed.

“I used to get at least five customers a week when advertising and marketing online, but when … I don’t have internet data, I’ll be lucky if I manage to get two,” Kapvumfuti said at her home in the eastern city of Mutare.