IMF says Zimbabwe’s ZiG currency has ended bout of instability
The International Monetary Fund says the introduction of a bullion-backed currency by Zimbabwe has helped to end instability that had plagued the economy.
“The ZiG official exchange rate has so far remained stable, ending a bout of macroeconomic instability in the first three months of the year,” the Fund said in an emailed statement Wednesday following an Article IV review. “Assuming that macro-stabilization is sustained, cumulative inflation in the remainder of the year is projected at about 7%.”
The rapid decline of the defunct Zimbabwe dollar fanned inflation, leading to an increase in the cost of goods and services, as the local currency lost value every single trading day on both the official and parallel markets. The local dollar’s collapse also fueled difficulty in making day-to-day transactions as more zeros had to be added to the prices of goods in supermarkets and restaurants to keep track of its weakness.
The ZiG traded at a record low of 13.70 to the dollar Friday, according to central bank data posted on its website. That brings its cumulative losses to 1% since trading began on April 8.
The ZiG is the nation’s sixth attempt at having a functioning local currency in the past 15 years. It is backed by 2.5 tons of gold and $100 million in foreign currency reserves held at the central bank. Monetary authorities have vowed not to print any ZiG not sufficiently backed by the reserves in order to avoid the printing press widely seen as behind the fall of past local units.
The Washington-based lender also commended the “improvement in monetary policy discipline” and urged further refinements to the policy framework. Earlier Wednesday, the central bank’s monetary policy committee kept interest rates unchanged at 20%, a day after holding a rates decision meeting.
“The MPC has resolved to maintain the current tight monetary policy stance to ensure the sustenance of the current stability,” said Governor John Mushayavanhu.
Other Highlights:
- The IMF sees the southern African nation’s growth slowing to 2% this year from 5.3% last year as a result of the El Niño-induced drought.
- Growth is forecast at 6% next year supported by recovery in agriculture and projects in the manufacturing sector.
- Treasury urged to have oversight of the Sovereign Wealth Fund also known as the Mutapa Investment Fund in order to ensure stabilization efforts in economy remain.
