# How did Zimbabwe get in such bad shape? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 30, 2013, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-zimbabwe-get-in-such-bad-shape/648794 "2013-01-30T07:23:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-zimbabwe-get-in-such-bad-shape/648794/21 "2013-01-30T23:10:10Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > With the smallest usable unit of currency having umpteen zeroes on it, I wonder how an amount as low as 200 could even exist there. I mean, the smallest single bill or coin, alone, must be vastly more than that. The era of hyperinflation is actually over now; they ended it by the simple expedient of not having their own currency anymore. The country now uses U.S. dollars, South African rands, and other foreign currencies that are actually worth something. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-zimbabwe-get-in-such-bad-shape/648794/22 "2013-01-30T23:39:03Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Who’s investing in Zimbabwe right now? Quite right. The reason why Rhodesia fell was that they couldn’t find anyone to continue dumping money into it as the UK no longer wanted an expensive, futile, white colony in Africa and (eventually) neither did Apartheid-South Africa. The reason as to why Zim’s current government is in trouble is similar; lack of foreign investment due to a shady government practices. Exactly what else should be done? ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-zimbabwe-get-in-such-bad-shape/648794/23 "2013-01-31T01:43:03Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > In the late 1990s, the famous hyperinflation occurred. I’m not sure this is right. I was there in 2000, when inflation was said to be around 50% a year - certainly significant, but not really hyper. I believe the really crazy inflation began around 2006. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-zimbabwe-get-in-such-bad-shape/648794/24 "2013-01-31T02:05:30Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > The era of hyperinflation is actually over now; they ended it by the simple expedient of not having their own currency anymore. The country now uses U.S. dollars, South African rands, and other foreign currencies that are actually worth something. according to the interview in the BBC, the finance minister that was quoted saying they have only 217 in the bank is peeved at the press. His point wasn't that the Gov't was out of , they received $30million in routine tax income the next day, but that they didn’t have the estimated $200million needed for an upcoming election. His point was ignored while the media seized on the factoid though. 🙂 Wasn’t there a moment in one of the recent financial debacles in the US where Apple had more cash than the US Government? A odd little coincidence and about as meaningful as the $217. Not to defend the country, I know nothing about it compared to even-sven or the other posters. I just mention today’s BBC article. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-zimbabwe-get-in-such-bad-shape/648794/25 "2013-01-31T02:49:32Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > I’m not sure this is right. I was there in 2000, when inflation was said to be around 50% a year - certainly significant, but not really hyper. > > I believe the really crazy inflation began around 2006. Sorry, you are right. The hyperinflation hit its peak in 2008-2009. In 2009 they switched to foreign currency and the crises was over. When I visited in 2012, the ATMs spit out US twenties, the supermarkets were stocked, and the only monitory oddness was a nation wide lack of small change and an enormous number of two dollar bills. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-zimbabwe-get-in-such-bad-shape/648794/26 "2013-01-31T06:05:57Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > I tried to purchase Zimbabwean currency for my collection of odd money, and was unable. No bank I could find thought it worth carrying. If you’re still looking, go to E-Bay - I bought 10 $ZIM 100 trillion notes there a couple of months ago, as discussed in this thread: [What comes after a trillion?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=675510&highlight=trillion) ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-zimbabwe-get-in-such-bad-shape/648794/27 "2013-01-31T11:04:30Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > I tried to purchase Zimbabwean currency for my collection of odd money, and was unable. No bank I could find thought it worth carrying. I have a couple of ZW$50 billion notes at home; I picked them up on the side of the road while walking through Harare. Obviously not even worth picking up to the other people on the road - and this was before Zim adopted the US dollar. PM me an address, I’ll mail them to you. (they are, like most Zim notes, not in good condition due to the poor paper quality) ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-zimbabwe-get-in-such-bad-shape/648794/28 "2013-01-31T12:49:06Z")
How to wreck an economy? Here’s how (in easy steps): -take productive farms away from competent managers/give to unqualified friends -add thousands of government jobs; give to friends -deport low level entrepreneurs -drive out tourists (by encouraging lawlessness and reducing law enforcement) -spend money not covered by tax receipts; print money to cover gap -become a repressive dictatorship; this will encourage capital flight -encourage dissenters to leave; reinforce one-party dictatorship Mugabe accomplished all of the above brilliantly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-zimbabwe-get-in-such-bad-shape/648794.md?page=1)