Embattled central bank chief Gideon Gono, who reigned over world-record hyperinflation, has urged Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to defend him against political attacks from Finance Mnister Tendai Biti.

Gono, a close ally of President Robert Mugabe, was re-appointed as Reserve Bank governor in December last year.

In a 15-page letter to Tsvangirai, which was obtained by AFP news Agency, Gono accused Finance Minister Tendai Biti of defaming him by blaming him for the collapse of the economy.

“On several occasions, the distinguished minister has accused me of killing this economy through printing money,” Gono said in the letter.

“I have suffered and continue to suffer abuse and ridicule at a time when you as prime minister have been telling the nation that by-gones are by-gones and that we need to move forward,” he added.

Gono also asked that Tsvangirai grant him “immunity/protection at law against victimisation by ministers, some of who may have been involved in nefarious/regrettable activities before.”

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office Gorden Moyo has professed ignorance about the letter.

The development comes as Biti told the media that the central bank has been operating outside the law, in the process undermining and weakening the country’s banking and financial system.

Mr Biti made the comments after the arrival of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) team to review the operations of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), a necessary step before the international community starts extending support to the unity government.

“The RBZ has been operating outside the law,” Mr Biti said.

“Our challenge is to make the RBZ a credible institution consistent with best practices and the IMF teams terms of reference are centred on the credibility of the RBZ.”