More funny money
March 6th, 2009
Here’s the latest episode in Zimbabwe’s bizarre history of money.
This is a coupon; the civil service, university staff and others in the public sector are now being paid with these coupons.
Each coupon is worth US$20 – but as you can see, this isn’t printed on the coupon itself. Some coupons have been issued by the CBZ (a private bank) and others, like the one pictured above, are issued by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (and because that’s Gono, they’re being called ‘goupons’).
Workers in the public sector have this week been issued these coupons. The back of the coupon tells them that they can be redeemed at any forex shop or deposited in a foreign currency account (FCA). However, one recipient who received one of these yesterday attempted to use it in five different shops and they were not accepted.
There is also widespread and understandable fear that if they are deposited into FCAs, the banks will not have enough cash to pay them out.
March 6th, 2009 16:58
just ridiculous. They look like raffle tickets…why would any shop accept these.
March 7th, 2009 07:56
Perhaps the mint should be re-opened to gold. Zimbabwe is a gold producing nation – and many Zimbabweans are familiar with the use of gold as currency.
Three months production of gold would suffice to cover Zimbabwe’s currency needs. Why use foreign exchange – when we can use natural Zimbabwean money – Gold.
March 8th, 2009 06:54
This goupon can easily be counterfeited. No wonder nobody wants it.
March 10th, 2009 08:38
Gono- that self-conceited ignoramus with an honorary doctorate masquerading as a Governor of the Reserve of Zimbabwe – must definitely go. If the MDC capitulates again (as it did with its earlier demand for the sole control of the Ministry of Home Affairs during the “power-sharing” talks) then Zimbabweans should make the country ungovernable. People power is mightier than any unity governmant, after all. Sokwanele!
March 10th, 2009 09:38
Mazwi enyaradzo kuna President veMDC uye Prime Minister VeNyika YeZimbabwe.
Ndiri murombo anonzwa urombo kuvarombo nenherera dzeZimbabwe nekuti tange takatarisira kuyamwa pana Amai vedu Susan. Murombo haarovi chinenguwo, Zvinorwadza moyo nherera kunyemudzwa zamo.
Ndinoti kuMhuri yaVaTsvangirai chemai netariro.
Zororai murugare Amai dakara tasangana- musakanganwa nherera dzamasiya
Shindi Mukanya.
March 10th, 2009 15:13
Central bankers, as everyone knows, are rascals. Gideon Gono is no exception, but there is something almost heroic about this imbecile. Whilst most economists hedge and weasel Mr Gono goes boldly and recklessly on and on – where no central banker has dared to go, at least not since the worst days of the Weimar Republic. Mr Gono stands tall, a colossus of error, an Olympus of bunglement. The economist Keynes warned that ‘there is a lot of ruin in a nation’. Mr Gono’s contribution to economics is to show just how much ruin there is.
In 1993 Friedrich Kessler, then law professor at Harvard University described an event from his past – The Weimar republic’s hyperinflation
“It was horrible! Horrible! Like lightning had struck. No one was prepared, you cannot imagine the rapidity with which the whole thing happened. The shelves in the grocery stores were empty. There was nothing you could buy with your paper money.”
He might just as well have been describing Zimbabwe today.
March 10th, 2009 16:08
If the rest of the country is using foreign currecny why is the driver asked to pay in a currency no l;onger in existence. Is it oversight on the side of the magistrate or is it downright contempt for what has happened. working for an NGO this guy is paid in foreign currency, all he has to do is go to rubbish dumps and he will get the $100 for his bail. smells like a rotten rat. bennett paid in US and is still languishing in jail. zanu circus in town entrance is free at your own peril.
March 10th, 2009 16:43
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMMENTARY BOX WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE AN email address.
TO SOME OF US IT IS FRIGHTENING TO USE AN amail address WHEN ALL THESE COMMUNICATION GADGETS ARE BEING BUGGED DAY IN AND DAY OUT. WHEN I AM ABDUCTED AT NIGHT THE WORLD MAY NEVER KNOW.-SOME OF US CAN NOT STAND THE SEVERE TORTURING WHICH IS DONE BY THE STATE AGENTS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION (HATINGAKUDZOKI). OUR BODIES WERE HARD HIT BY AIDS, LACK OF FOOD NUTRIENTS, DISEASES, LACK OF CASH OT BUY THE EXPENSIVE ITEMS NOW AVAILABLE IN SHOPS etc.
MAY I URGE ALL THOSE WHO WANT US TO COMMENT IN THEIR COLUMNS OR COMMENTARY BOXES TO GIVE US A FACILITY TO COMMENT AND POST OUR COMMENTS USING THE PSEUDONAMES BECAUSE IF YOU ARE TAKEN BY THE CIO-YOU RARELY COME BACK ALIVE. THOSE WHO ARE RELEASED AFTER THE TORTURE-ARE USUALLY DAMAGED FOR LIFE WHICH WE CALL “KAFIRA MBERI.”
IN THE BIBLE THERE IS A COLUMN WHICH SAYS,”IF GOD WANTS TO PUNISH A NATION-HE INSTALS A BAD LEADER.” THERE IS NO BETTER TRUTH THAN THAT. MUGABE nemaWAR VET AYA VAZOURAYA NYIKA IYA MANJE!!!!! ASI IVO VAKATOPFUMA KUDARIKA VANA BUSH nanaBLAIR.
LOOK AT GERMANY DURING THE 1940s, USSR DURING THE 1940s, UGANDA DURING THE 1970s, RSA DURING APARTHEID ERA, ZIMBABWE DURING THE 1980s TO DATE. THE LEAST IS ENDLESS!!!!.
Eeeeh!Eeeh!Eeeeh! NDANGONHONGAWO COMPUTER ine internet NDIKATI REGAI NDIZVITAURE. ZVARWADZA KANHI VAKOMANA NAVASIKANA. TANZWA…..KUDA MUNGANDINZWAWO!!
March 15th, 2009 08:48
Still have a few of those notes from the Weimar Republic, they look very similar to those latest ones from Mr Gono. At least we can assume that the suffering might come to an end soon. Love your country, lived there for 3 years.
March 16th, 2009 11:48
How did this happen that Gono is in a position to virtually act as President, Prime minister and the whole cabinet? Surely ANY decisions made by anyone would be subjected to discussion and authorization of the powers who run the country? He has not once stood up and admitted that there is NO Zimbabwe money around. That is why he is printing this trash on bond paper which is more than likely being scanned in offices in various past ministries.The rest of the world has called for him to go, so what is his problem? In too deep the rumours are abound!!!!!