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HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - Rowdy crowds formed at clothing stores Monday in Zimbabwe as anxious parents searched for uniforms for a new school year overshadowed by rocketing fees, shortages of basic supplies and lack of electricity.
Margaret Boora, a single mother, said she couldn't raise the $200 for fees, exercise books and a uniform for her daughter's first term at high school. She earns $15 a month as an office janitor, a typical wage for unskilled workers.
"I don't know what to do. It is not possible for me to find the money," she said. A blazer and a hat with a school badge alone were priced at $72, nearly five times her monthly take-home pay. There are no cheaper schools within walking distance in her area and bus fares cost more than $1 a day.
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