Zimbabwean Hyperinflation Officially Estimated At 2.2 Million Percent

This is a textbook case of how to create hyperinflation by thinking you can print all the money you want. It is interesting to note that Mugabe blames Britain for trying to undermine his regime when in fact while under British control, Zimbabwe was Africa’s second richest country (behind South Africa). But under Mugabe’s reign Zimbabwe has become a basket case due primarily to misguided economic policy. Several years ago Mugabe nationalized the large farms and took control from productive farmers and gave control to his cronies (who knew nothing about farming) and then he wondered why farm production fell. Duh?

Now inflation is increasing so fast his central statistical office can’t keep up. And they are instituting yet another program to try to “make food and other basic commodities available to vulnerable segments of the population being hammered by hyperinflation.” The following article by the Voice of America radio shows the depths to which Zimbabwe has fallen.  ~editor

Zimbabwean Hyperinflation Officially Estimated At 2.2 Million Percent

By Blessing Zulu
Washington

Zimbabwe’s central bank governor made known on Wednesday that inflation has reached an annual rate of some 2.2 million percent in the first official disclosure of such data since the country’s Central Statistical Office announced a rate of 165,000% for February.

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono offered the estimate during a speech at the launch of a program the government said would make food and other basic commodities available to vulnerable segments of the population being hammered by hyperinflation.

Central Statistical Office Acting Director Moffat Nyoni confirmed the figure with the caveat that it was rough measure based on limited price data. His office stopped issuing inflation data after the February report, saying it could not obtain valid prices from stores.

President Robert Mugabe, launching the initiative, blamed Britain for the economic crisis and accused it of trying to achieve regime change in a bid to control Zimbabwe’s resources.

British-based Zimbabwean economist Prosper Chitambara told reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the inflation estimate of 2.2 million percent points to continued deterioration and a plunge “into the economic abyss.”

As of 7/18/2008 you need 100 of these to equal 4¢ U.S.

Continually accelerating inflation spells disaster for many Zimbabweans who are barely able to feed themselves. More than 2 million Zimbabweans will be going hungry in the months ahead, according to the United Nations World Food Program and Food and Agriculture Organization, which say that figure could surge to more than 5 million by early next year.

WFP Southern Africa spokesman Richard Lee told VOA correspondent Delia Robertson that hyperinflation will have a devastating impact on the most vulnerable people in the country.

Zimbabwean consumer George Bhamu of the eastern city of Mutare said inflation is making it impossible for families to afford basic commodities they need to live day by day.

A Chivhu resident who asked to be identified only as Innocent, said inflation is obliging many Zimbabweans to make a living by means that are sometimes less than reputable.