I just read that the offical exchange rate on the Zim dollar was frozen at 1.6 billion Zim dollars to one U.S. dollar. Surely that was a typo, right?

When the govt has to pay themselves, the military and the police by cranking up the printing press, this is what happens. Because there is almost NO tax revenue...nobody is making any money to pay tax (except the hunting industry...and that forex is snapped up and spent by the inner circle).

But of course it's the fault of the British and the white farmers, not to mention the MDC.

Hey, he blamed the USA as well! There seems to be enough blame to be spread around.
Peter.

The rate 3 days ago was 1.2 billion to one and I finally became a millionaire by acquiring several 10 and fifty mil notes as We left. Dinner at the Boma in Vic Falls was over 40 billion for our party but there were more tourists than in 04 or 05.

Would someone like to help me get a few billion Z-dollars for fun here in Texas?
Jeff

Moday the bank rate was 1.2 Billion :1. Yesterday afternoon 2.5 Billion :1 and the black market rate for transfer was 5.2 Billion:1

There is still a serious shortage of actual Zim cash which is why the rate for a cheque or trannsfer to your account is so much higher. We are limmited to withdrawing 10 Billion per day (if you stand in the bank queue and cash a cheque) or 2 billion a day if you try and use the ATM's.

It is also amazing/anoying how many people will still not accept US$'s. On tuesday night I tried to buy a take away dinner. No Zim cash on hand and all the ATM's were dry (not that 2 billion would have helped when one portion at the Chinese take away is 4 billion). No Buisness will take a cheque and we had to try 4 fast food outlets before finding someone who would accept real dollars to pay for dinner!!!

It's hard to imagine such an exchange rate. Especially when a dollar will just barely buy a Coke. My first trip to Zimbabwe was in 1997. The official exchange rate was 9 Zim. Dollars to 1 U.S. Dollar. I bought a pair of Bata Bata shoes for 11 U.S. Dollars in a store in Bulawayo. Still have the shoes, they were pretty well made.

If the dollar had not fallen, the exchange rate would be 3.2 billion to 1.

Mugabe is now warning that his followers will fight (and that he'll join the fight) if his opponent wins the election. Why bother...?

Forget the exchange rate and inflation figures, it is virtually irrelavent and does not make any sense. Even an accountant whom deals with figures on a daily basis cant comprehend those numbers. For the local people it is a totally stuffed up economy where the money is not worth the paper it is printed on.

NOW for (international travelers/visitors) whom use US Dollars or even ZA Rands, ZIM'S is still very very cheap to purchase a lot of items (when you can get them) .... in fact it is MUCH cheaper than in USA NZ SA or any of Europe.

In fact (if you did have the guts to speculate) and wanted to get a real bargain, now is the time to buy up property in Zim's, as it is a steal, and when Comrade Mugabe (does finally go) the outside western world's financial institutions (IMF - World Bank - and Western countries taxpayers money) will flow in like water to (prop up the dying patient) and revive him to live another day.

Remember two years ago now the World Bank/IMF totally (wrote of ALL of Zambia's debt) that is what they (our western governments) do when an African country shows some resemblance of rejecting dictators ..

WE need to remember clearly that when it suits them (OUR WESTERN GOVERNMENTS STEAL) our taxpayer money and use it to PROP UP FAILED countries and even businesses ... remember the USA used $US 200 billion to PROP-UP Bear Stearns, so believe me it does occur

Cheers, Peter