The $500 million dollar banknote
The central bank has issued a 500m Zimbabwe dollar banknote, worth US$2, to try to ease cash shortages amid the world's highest rate of inflation. The previous highest denomination note was for Z$250m, issued 10 days ago. At 'independence' in 1980, one Zimbabwe dollar was worth more than US$1.
There is of course an alternative ...
but liberals would rather let Africans starve than go & sort the place out. On the other hand, at least there is one currency that the US$ is appreciating against! See, theres an upside to everything
Comments
I'd be surprised if that note could be exchanged for any amount of real foreign currency.
In fact, I would be surprised if 100 of those notes could buy a blank notebook with 100 dollar-sized sheets of blank paper.
If they stopped printing stuff on them, they might be worth something ... as they are, you probably can't wipe your ass with them without leaving ink stains.
Posted by: Kristopher | May 16, 2008 12:10 AM
Oh how could you be so cruel? Each one of those notes is a finely engraved certificate hailing the great success of Mugabe's political leadership and economic management over the last 20 years.
We should have them framed and hung on our walls as a warning to the political correctness of trendy bleeding heart liberals who remain steadfastly blind to hard but unpalatable realities when promoting the cause of self-determination.
Can we not use these notes to pay the pensions of those Whitehall warriors who were so critical of Ian Smith's regime?
Posted by: Gweilicus | May 16, 2008 4:04 AM
Make a nice keepsake they would. Might be worth a bob or two in the future.
Oh yeah, and am I the only person here seeing any parallels between Zim and pre-WWII Germany? Mad inflation, mad dictators blaming an ethinic minority for all the country's woes, albeit whites this time.
Just thinking here guys.......... Rusty
Posted by: Rusty Ray | May 16, 2008 8:57 AM
Me too Rusty, thankfully he hasnt the means nor neighbours for lebensraum!
Posted by: TimC | May 16, 2008 5:37 PM
He already has a racial group to blame ... I expect death camps at any time now.
I don't think Zimbabwe has had their turn defeating France yet ...
Posted by: Kristopher | May 16, 2008 9:01 PM