Zimbabwe Dollar is Dead-Biti
Finance Minister Tendai Biti has indicated that the Zimbabwe dollar is no longer in use.
Presenting a revised 2009 Budget to Parliament, Biti said: “The death of the Zimbabwe dollar is a reality we have to live with. Since October 2008 our national currency has become moribund.”
“In this regard, I therefore announce the removal of all foreign currency surrender requirements,” Biti said, adding that all licensed foreign currency outlets will no longer be required to remit five percent of their proceeds to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
He said the removal of the forex 
surrender requirement was meant to promote business viability. The requirement was, he said, affecting most business while the move was also in light of the fact that the local currency was no longer in use. Zimbabwe is talking to the United States and European Union over the repeal of sanctions, according to an economic policy document, the first sign the new government may be gaining the confidence of Western powers.
But Washington rejected President Robert Mugabe’s call to ease sanctions on the impoverished African country, saying the government had “a long way to go” before this could happen.
The document released on Thursday by the unity government said political reforms demanded by Western donors were a crucial part of an emergency recovery plan to ease hyper-inflation and widespread shortages of food and fuel.
At the launch of the government’s Short-term Emergency Recovery Program, Mugabe called for international help for the plan and reiterated a call for sanctions to be lifted.
Washington said it needed to see clear signs of reform.
“We have not yet seen sufficient evidence from the government of Zimbabwe that they are firmly and irrevocably on a path to inclusive and effective governance as well as respect for human rights and the rule of law,” U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters. “That government has a long way to go before we will consider easing sanctions.”
The document forecast that inflation would fall to 10 per cent by the end of 2009 — from over 230 million per cent at last count — due to the use of multiple foreign currencies to replace the almost worthless Zimbabwe dollar.
The document said Zimbabwe has started talking to the U.S., EU, IMF and World Bank over the removal of sanctions.
“In this regard, discussions have already started with the EU, European Commission, World Bank, IMF, and the (African Development Bank) AfDB with the objective of removing the above sanctions and measures…,” the document said.
The government of Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai faces the daunting task of rebuilding Zimbabwe’s shattered economy after years of hyperinflation and decline.
While Western powers would prefer that Mugabe step down, they have indicated they can help the country recover as long as a democratic government is in place.
Western donors and foreign investors crucial to rebuilding Zimbabwe want political and economic reforms, such as reversing nationalization plans, before they will pour in cash.
“The key priority areas are … political and governance issues, namely the constitution and the constitution-making processes, the media and media reforms, legislation reforms intended at strengthening governance and accountability and (the) rule of law …,” said the document.
Much will depend on whether old foes Mugabe and Tsvangirai can work together and persuade skeptical Western countries that they can manage the recovery. “This is a welcome program but it would require the government to religiously stick to the key principles of respecting the rule of law, upholding the sanctity of property rights and democratic reforms,” said John Robertson, a Harare economic consultant, who met an IMF and World Bank delegation that is visiting the country.
“This will be the major challenge because only then can we be able to convince the international community to release badly needed financial aid.”
The recovery plan will require funding in excess of $5 billion, mostly from donors. The U.S. and EU have put in place targeted sanctions against certain individuals close to Mugabe and some Zimbabwean companies.
The policy document also warned against continued invasions and takeovers of mainly white-owned farms, saying offenders could be arrested.
Thousands of white farmers have fled Zimbabwe since land seizures began in 2000, a policy that Mugabe critics say helped destroy the economy.
The country’s farmers’ union said some white farmers were still being forced off land or being prosecuted for refusing to leave.
The document said the government wanted to promote confidence in farming and investment in the sector. “The inclusive government will uphold the rule of law as well as enforce law,” it said.
Posted by Wellington Chadehumbe
on March 19, 2009. Filed under Local News.
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