Esther (not her real name), 28, a professional living and working in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, has been writing a diary throughout the year, describing her struggle to survive in a country with an economy in freefall.
Here, we look back at the frustrating lows and the one euphoric high of an eventful year, marked by controversial elections.
Click on the links below the quotes to read each full version of Esther's diary entries:
6 FEBRUARY 2008: THE SHOES THAT GOT AWAY
And hey, you could budget and save for that divine pair of shoes.
"
I miss the Harare of old: Where pot-holes were patched up as soon as they appeared, when you could walk into a supermarket and buy milk without joining a stampede to a supermarket where it has just been delivered (I witnessed one yesterday).
26 MARCH 2008: ELECTION EXCITEMENT
And ooooooh I am hearing so many stories - people are really talking again these days.
I am excited!
"
The mood is light, no-one will beat you up any more for wearing an MDC T-shirt or attending a rally so people are doing that in their thousands.
1 APRIL 2008: RESULT DELAY FUELS SUSPICION
I'm not the only one who is thinking this. I think I speak for every Zimbabwean when I say there is concern.
"
The results were displayed on the polling station so I'm quite concerned that there's been a delay when the results are quite obviously known.
10 APRIL 2008: UNCERTAINTY DAMPENS MOOD
And that's what's different - there used to be this fear that an intelligence operative would hear you and pick you up and beat you up.
"
Had the ruling party won the election, they would have announced the results the Sunday after the election. This is the opinion that you will hear in the supermarket, in the queue for public transport, on the bus going home.
14 MAY 2008: LIVING IN LIMBO
So that is almost Z$2bn just to put one simple supper together.
"
The other day I saw this simple pasta recipe, and thought I would buy the ingredients and try it out:
500g pasta: $750,000,000.00
500g minced beef: $560,000,000.00
200g cheddar cheese: $120,000,000.00
Bag of mushrooms: $480,000,000.00
5 JUNE 2008: JINGLES RING HOLLOW
No ordinary person that is - broadcasting your political views has once again become the preserve of activists.
"
One does not hear people talking politics that much in public these days, I guess we have all seen the pictures of victims of violence from the rural areas, and no-one wants to end up like that.
12 JUNE 2008: DESCENT INTO VIOLENCE
"
Later, as I thought about what I had said, I realised I was becoming like the very people I blame for all our woes - full of hate, intolerant of views contrary to my own, seeing violence as a perfectly acceptable way of settling differences.
"
18 JUNE 2008: MILITIAS REACH TOWN
Youth militia have set up roadblocks on the outskirts of the city where they randomly stop vehicles, ask the passengers to disembark and chant the slogan.
Anyone who fails to cannot proceed with their journey until they have been 'taught'.
"
We have all learnt an important lesson - not knowing the Zanu-PF slogan can cost you a beating or worse.
25 JUNE 2008: SHELL-SHOCKED
One man asked us: "So all the deaths were in vain?" and another: "What of all the displaced people who vowed to vote no matter what?"
"
I watched the broadcasts with some friends in Harare, and I tell you, the reaction was one of dismay, betrayal and even anger at the opposition.
2 JULY 2008: ALL EYES ON EGYPT
The day itself was a non-event really - with only one candidate, the result was a forgone conclusion.
A friend told me he was so overcome with frustration in the polling booth, he gouged out Robert Mugabe's eyes on his ballot paper.
"
Every Zimbabwean with media access is following the African Union summit going on in Egypt with baited breath following Friday's election.
21 JULY 2008: CIRCUS LEAVES TOWN
"
The militia roadblocks and base camps have disappeared from most (but not all) areas, posters have come down from public transport vehicles, teenagers are back to wearing T-shirts with the faces of R&B stars rather than that of R G Mugabe.
"
1 AUGUST 2008: NO MORE TRILLIONAIRES
So no more talk of trillionaires, quadrillionaires and quintillionaires.
At least, not for another six months or so.
"
At midnight, my bank stripped me of my trillionaire status - the Z$5 trillion sitting in my account became Z$500.
1 OCTOBER 2008: DAY-DREAMING OVER
I can't wait to taste pizza again.
"
It is the little things I long for - the little things that are now luxuries... eating lots of different types of food, getting take-outs, buying clothes.
14 NOVEMBER 2008: NEW ABDUCTIONS
Then the topic turned to the recent abductions; and whether or not the rumours about the renewed violence are true; and if it has actually started again.
One of my colleagues confirmed it was true - people in the rural areas are disappearing in the night, she told us.
"
We were discussing our illusive government of national unity at work the other day.
2 DECEMBER 2008: 'TOO MUCH TO TAKE'
But finally, no, it actually really, really happened.
"
You would think that by this stage it would be normal for riots to break out. But normal is not normal in Zimbabwe; and the sight of soldiers rioting, ransacking and looting would be considered implausible...
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