Travel agents say that the number of holidaymakers planning to travel to Zimbabwe this year is down more than 90% on last year's figure, owing to exceedingly warm temperatures in the country.
Zimbabwe has been experiencing searing-hot days and intensely-warm, sticky nights, with even the locals finding it difficult to relax and sleep. Some say they would prefer to stay awake, because they worry that, should they fall asleep, they may never wake up.
Gladys Mboku, 29, told our reporter:
"It's too dangerous. It's killing us. People are dying in their sleep."
Another, Reggie Mmmmmm, of Harare, went further, saying:
"The government is getting very clammy under the collar, very fiery, and the situation is simmering and extremely volatile. Everything is at boiling point. It's sizzling."
Weather experts say that the record-breaking simmering heat is set to continue, and many more people are expected to die. But not of heat exhaustion.
