I can’t blame anyone for doing whatever it takes to escape a collapsing economy, but a nation’s finances won’t be resurrected by a few people earning an income derived from the betting losses of others. Zimbabwe could turn things around by rejecting the legacy of scientific socialism, but there seems to be insufficient interest in that.
Unable to further his education after finishing high school with low grades in 2019, Chisakarire struggled to find a job in Zimbabwe’s stressed industries. The outbreak of COVID-19 meant his father, a truck driver, lost regular work. So Chisakarire began hanging around an illegal tavern where patrons dodged or bribed police to overlook pandemic restrictions so they could drink beer and play pool.
His hobby became a skill and he showed a talent for shooting the round balls into the pockets. Soon it helped solve his financial problems as he began betting on his games and winning. These days he earns about $300 on a good month by playing pool, he says.
