4 Days

Bread can no longer be bought with Zimbabwe dollars.

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"It may be necessary to use methods other than constitutional ones." -- Robert Mugabe

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Economy of Zimbabwe

The economy of Zimbabwe is collapsing from economic mismanagement, resulting in 94% unemployment and hyperinflation. The economy poorly transitioned in recent years, deteriorating from one of Africa's strongest economies to the world's worst. Inflation has surpassed that of all other nations at over 80 sextillion(1021)% (although it is impossible to calculate an accurate value), with the next highest in Ethiopia at 41%. It currently has the lowest GDP real growth rate in an independent country and 3rd in total (behind Palestinian territories.)

Those who have money to spend find little to buy.

The country has reserves of metallurgical-grade chromite. Other commercial mineral deposits include coal, asbestos, copper, nickel, gold, platinum and iron ore. However, its ongoing political turmoil and one of the world's highest rate of inflation have greatly hampered its progress. Inflation, which many critics argue was caused by president Robert Mugabe's policies towards land reform, have led to internal upheaval and population displacement, and poverty.

Since 2000 president Mugabe has confiscated lands of white farmers, and this former net exporter of grain has now been plagued by hunger.

Farmers Mike Campbell [left] and wife Angela Campbell were abducted by a gang of Zanu-PF supporters and savagely beaten for several hours Photo: EPA. Via Telegraph. More at Agmates. [<-- Warning graphic photos.] Farmers evicted: food crisis to escalate [10/31/09].

Government spending is 56.4% of GDP. It has partly been financed by printing money, which has led to hyperinflation. State enterprises are strongly subsidized, taxes and tariffs are high. State regulation is costly to companies, starting or closing a business is slow and costly.

Labor market is highly regulated, hiring a worker is cumbersome, firing a worker is difficult and the unemployment has risen to 94% (at the end of 2008; the figure was 80% in 2005). -- The rest, as they say, is history. Read it at Wikipedia.

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Related: From Riches to Rags: Inflation & Poverty in Zimbabwe

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4 days, and counting... to the implosion of the dollar.

Related: 24 Days