Everyone's favourite disaster

**Mikeus Caesar** · 06-02-2008, 12:08

And international joke, Zimbabwe.

I'm just reading a Times article on Zimbabwe, where it says the Central Bank has just introduced the '$1 billion note'. Further on in the article it is claimed that inflation is currently running at 1,700,000 percent!

Just how much longer can Zimbabwe keep going? Why is Mugabe still in office despite having obviously lost the elections? It's madness!

And for those interested, the article itself: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4036184.ece

**TB666** · 06-02-2008, 15:19

You know if you manage to get your hands on one of those notes and wait until a revolution comes and lowers the inflation then you can become rich

**PBI** · 06-02-2008, 15:40

Alas, if (when) the revolution comes the new government will probably have to revalue the currency and declare the previous currency worthless. The Z$1 Billion notes will still be worth a bit as collector's items though I imagine, one of the comments in the article mentions people buying them on Ebay for more than their face value.

Originally Posted by Mikeus Caesar

Just how much longer can Zimbabwe keep going?

Indeed, surely sooner or later the economy has to reach rock bottom, it can't keep on collapsing forever?

**KukriKhan** · 06-02-2008, 16:10

In related news, Mr. Mugabe attends a UN Food and Agriculture summit soon. Now that I understand as irony.

Like Khrushchev addressing an Anger Management seminar.

**macsen rufus** · 06-02-2008, 16:51

The Z$1 Billion notes will still be worth a bit as collector's items

You would think so, however novelty value is not that great -- I have a few Reichmark notes with an obscene number of zeros on them. However, they were printed in such vast numbers due to the hyperinflation that they are ten a penny now.

**PBI** · 06-02-2008, 17:11

Originally Posted by macsen rufus

However, they were printed in such vast numbers due to the hyperinflation that they are ten a penny now.

Still probably more than they were actually worth, though.

**woad&fangs** · 06-22-2008, 18:31

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25311528

The opposition leader dropped out of the race because of violence and the only thing that anyone does is for some random US diplomat to make a "strongly worded phone call".

**lars573** · 06-02-2008, 16:31

Originally Posted by Mikeus Caesar

And international joke, Zimbabwe.

I'm just reading a Times article on Zimbabwe, where it says the Central Bank has just introduced the '$1 billion note'. Further on in the article it is claimed that inflation is currently running at 1,700,000 percent!

Just how much longer can Zimbabwe keep going? Why is Mugabe still in office despite having obviously lost the elections? It's madness!

And for those interested, the article itself: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4036184.ece

Realisticly it can't. Mugabe is still in office cause the army hasn't decided to get rid of him yet.

**Geoffrey S** · 06-02-2008, 16:42

Probably more like: he's still in power because he is the only centralizing influence in the country. Like many other similar states, when the big man withdraws from everywhere except the capital, the rest couldn't care less and resort to the usual regionalism.