Zimbabweans are spreading the laughter through technology, sending e-mails and short text messages once a day in order to relieve their minds from their everyday struggles.

In a country that suffers from a crippling economy, and long lines to buy such basics as food and fuel, young Zimbabweans are drowning their sorrows through cell phone humor.

One joke which has circulated at gas lines among motorists struggling with shortages and buying the scarce commodity at exorbitant black market rates is an invitation to make haste to a fuel garage which supposedly has copious amounts of the commodity.

"Do you need petrol or diesel? No queue and take some containers if you wish. COST is pump price," the message begins, leaving the desperate motorist almost stunned with relief. But of course there is a catch, as the SMS continues: "RUSH now and see a guy called Al Sayid at Number 13 Shaduuf Road, Tripoli, Libya."

Libya had been Zimbabwe's largest fuel supplier before it cut off the deal almost three years ago after Mugabe's government failed to cover its costs.

Another light-hearted greeting joke passed around from one motorist to the next reads: "Greetings from the proud owner of 50 liters of fuel."

The country's government leaders are frequently the target of most jokes, but people rarely spread these beyond their friends and family for fear of landing in jail for breaching tough security laws.