Zimbabwe suffers cash crunch

Just when life could not become any harder for Zimbabweans, who are already having to cope with food and fuel shortages and rocketing prices, local banks have run out of notes.

26 Nov 2007

Long queues of people waiting to draw cash have been a common sight outside banks for the past two weeks. "Yesterday I came here at 4 a.m. but by 3 p.m., when the branch closed, I had not managed to get anything," said Janet Sibanda, who lives in the capital, Harare.

The crisis has inevitably bred a new kind of dealer, providing cash for a commission. They include bank tellers who moonlight as currency sellers after work, illegal foreign currency dealers, shop managers and even sports administrators, who receive cash after matches.

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