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Revision as of 02:09, 24 June 2008

Economy of Zimbabwe
CurrencyZimbabwean dollar (ZWD)
Fiscal yearcalendar year
Trade organisationsWTO
Statistics
GDPUSD $28.098 billion (2007) (IMF); USD $6.186 billion (2007) (CIA+WB)
GDP growth-5.7% (2007) -3.6% (2008) (IMF est.)
GDP per capitaUSD $500 (2007 est.)
GDP by sectorAgriculture: 16.7%, Industry: 21.6%, Services: 61.6% (2007)
Inflation (CPI)732,604% (CSO (not officially released) - Apr 2008) ; unofficial est. 1,700,000% (May 2008)
Population below poverty line80% earn below ZWD 4 Billion per month (USD $50.00) (Apr 2008)
Gini coefficient50.1% (1995) 56.8% (2003)
Labour force4.23 million (2004 est.)
Labour force by occupationAgriculture: 60%, Services: 9%, Wholesale, Retail, Hotels, Restaurants: ~4%, Manufacturing: 4%, Mining: 3% (2003)
Unemployment80% (2005 to 2008 est.)
Main industriesmining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel; wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages
External
ExportsUSD $1.775 billion (2006 est.)
Export goodsCotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing
Main export partnersSouth Africa 36.4%, (China, Japan, Zambia) 7.3% each, Mozambique 4.7%, (US, Botswana, Italy, Germany, Netherlands) 3.6% each (2006)
ImportsUSD $2.059 billion (2005 est.) f.o.b.
Import goodsmachinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals, fuels
Main import partnersSouth Africa 43%, China 4.6%, Botswana 3.3% (2005)
Public finances
Government debtDomestic: ZWD $60.8 trillion (rev) (01 Feb 2008), $1.353 quadrillion (rev) (29 Feb 2008) . International: USD $5.2 billion (September 2006)
RevenuesZWD $216 billion (rev) (2006)
ExpensesZWD $451 billion (rev) (2006)
Economic aidrecipient: $178 million; note - the EU and the US provide food aid on humanitarian grounds (2000 est.)
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.
Zimbabwean exports in 2006

The economy of Zimbabwe is collapsing under the weight of economic mismanagement, resulting in 85% unemployment and spiraling hyperinflation. The economy poorly transitioned after Robert Mugabe's leadership, deteriorating from one of Africa's strongest economies to the world's worst. Inflation has surpassed that of all other nations at over 730,000%, with the next highest in Burma at 39.5%. The government has attributed the economy's poor performance to ZDERA, a US congressional act hinging debt relief for Zimbabwe on democratic reform, and freezing the international assets of the ruling class. It currently has the lowest GDP real growth rate in an independent country and 3rd in total (behind Palestinian territories.)

The country has reserves of metallurgical-grade chromite. Other commercial mineral deposits include coal, asbestos, copper, nickel, gold, platinum and iron ore. However, its ongoing political turmoil and the world's highest rate of AIDS infection have greatly hampered its progress. Mugabe's policies towards land reform have led to internal upheaval and population displacement, high inflation, and an inability of the country's citizens to feed themselves.

1980s

Following the Lancaster House Agreement in December 1979, the transition to majority rule in early 1980, and the lifting of sanctions, Zimbabwe enjoyed a brisk economic recovery. Real growth for 1980-1981 exceeded 20%. However, depressed foreign demand for the country's mineral exports and the onset of a drought cut sharply into the growth rate in 1982, 1983, and 1984. In 1985, the economy rebounded strongly due to a 30% jump in agricultural production. However it slumped in 1986 to a zero growth rate and registered negative of about minus 3% in 1987 primarily because of drought and foreign exchange crisis faced by the country. Zimbabwe's GDP grew on average by about 4.5% between 1980 and 1990.

Infrastructure and resources

Zimbabwe has adequate internal transportation and electrical power networks. Paved roads link the major urban and industrial centres, and rail lines managed by the National Railways of Zimbabwe tie it into an extensive central African railroad network with all its neighbours. In non-drought years, it has adequate electrical power, mainly generated by the Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River but augmented since 1983 by large thermal plants adjacent to the Wankie coal field. As of 2006, crumbling infrastructure and lack of spare parts for generators and coal mining means that Zimbabwe imports 40% of its power - 100 megawatts from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 200 megawatts from Mozambique, up to 450 from South Africa, and 300 megawatts from Zambia.

Independent analyst put the inflation rate at +165 000% a figure which critics claim is far less than the actual inflation rate. Parity rates of measurement show point towards a figure of close to 500 000% but these cannot be cited for obvious reasons. The use of oppressive laws as manifested in the likes of the infamous National Price and Income Commission has seen the country at the bottom list of the of the World Bank Index. Recently the President of the republic signed the Empowerment bill whose effect is to transfer ownership from all foreigners into the hands of the local people something that has already had its toil on the DI. The telephone service is problematic, and new lines are difficult to obtain.

Agriculture was once the backbone of the Zimbabwean economy. Due to large scale eviction of white farmers and the government's land reform efforts, this is no longer the case. Reliable crop estimates are not available due to the Zimbabwe government's attempts to hide the realities following the evictions. The ruling party banned maize imports, stating record crops for the year of 2004.

The University of Zimbabwe estimates that between 2000 and 2007 agricultural production decreased by 51%.

Maize was the country's largest crop prior to the farm evictions. Tobacco was the largest export crop followed by cotton. Poor government management has exacerbated meager harvests caused by drought and floods, resulting in significant food shortfalls beginning in 2001. The land redistribution has been generally condemned in the developed world. It has found considerable support in Africa and a few supporters among African-American activists, but Jesse Jackson commented during a visit to South Africa in June 2006, "Land reform has long been a noble goal to achieve but it has to be done in a way that minimises trauma. The process has to attract investors rather than scare them away. What is required in Zimbabwe is democratic rule, democracy is lacking in the country and that is the major cause of this economic melt down."

2000–2008

See also: Hyperinflation in Zimbabwe

In recent years, poor management of the economy and political turmoil has led to considerable economic hardship. The Government of Zimbabwe's chaotic land reform program, recurrent interference with, and intimidation of, the judiciary, as well as maintenance of unrealistic price controls and exchange rates has led to a sharp drop in investor confidence.

On November 1 1989 a former government minister in Rhodesia, Denis Walker, produced a paper in London for the Conservative Monday Club's Foreign Affairs Committee on Land Reform in Zimbabwe. In his last paragraph he stated that "once the land has been redistributed, the commercial farms will be broken up, the remaining white farmers reduced by exile or imprisonment; Zimbabwe's government, already morally bankrupt, will decline towards economic collapse."

Between 2000 and December 2007, the national economy contracted by as much as 40%; inflation vaulted to over 66,000%, and there were persistent shortages of foreign exchange, local currency, fuel, medicine, and food. GDP per capita dropped by 40%, agricultural output dropped by 51% and industrial production dropped by 47%.

Direct foreign investment has all but evaporated. In 1998 , direct foreign investment was US $400 million. In 2007, that number had fallen to US $30 million

Billions were spent in the country's involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Price controls have been imposed on a wide range of products including food (maize, bread, steak), fuel, medicines, soap, electrical appliances, yarn, window frames, building sand, agricultural machinery, fertilisers and school textbooks.

Mugabe's supporters maintain that economic hardship has been brought about by Western-backed economic sanctions instituted through the United Nations. However, the only sanctions in place are personal sanctions against about 130 senior Zanu-PF figures; there are no sanctions against trade or investment with Zimbabwe.

As of February 2004 Zimbabwe's foreign debt repayments ceased, resulting in compulsory suspension from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This, and the United Nations World Food Programme stopping its food aid due to insufficient donations from the world community, has forced the government into borrowing from local sources.

Zimbabwe began experiencing severe foreign exchange shortages, exacerbated by the difference between the official rate and the black market rate in 2000. In 2004 a system of auctioning scarce foreign currency for importers was introduced, which temporarily led to a slight reduction in the foreign currency crisis, but by mid 2005 foreign currency shortages were once again chronic. The currency was devalued by the central bank twice, first to 9,000 to the US$, and then to 17,500 to the US$ on 20 July 2005, but at that date it was reported that that was only half the rate available on the black market.

In July 2005 Zimbabwe was reported to be appealing to the South African government for US$1 billion of emergency loans, but despite regular rumours that the idea was being discussed no financial support has been obtained from South Africa.

The official Zimbabwean dollar exchange rate had been frozen at Z$101,196 per U.S. dollar since early 2006, but as of 27 July 2006 the parallel (black market) rate has reached Z$550,000 per U.S. dollar. By comparison, 10 years earlier, the rate of exchange was only Z$9.13 per USD.

In August 2006 the RBZ revalued the Zimbabwean Dollar by 1000 ZWD to 1 (revalued) dollar. At the same time Zimbabwe devalued the Zim Dollar by 60% against the USD. New official exchange rate revalued ZWD 250 per USD. The parallel market rate was about revalued ZWD 1,200 to 1,500 per USD (28 September 2006).

In November 2006 it was announced that sometime around December 1 there would be a further devaluation and that the official exchange rate would change to revalued ZWD 750 per USD. This never materialized. However, the parallel market immediately reacted to this news with the parallel rate falling to ZWD 2,000 per USD (18 November 2006) and by year end it had fallen to ZWD 3,000 per USD.

On April 1 2007 the parallel market was asking ZWD 30,000 for $1 USD. By year end, it was down to about ZWD 2,000,000. On 18 January 2008, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe began to issue higher denomination ZWD bearer cheques (a banknote with an expiry date), including $10 million bearer cheques - each of which was worth less than US $1.35 (70p Sterling; 0.90 Euro) on the parallel market at the time of first issue. On April 4 2008 the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe introduced new $25 million and $50 million bearer cheques. At the time of first issue they were worth US$0.70 & US$1.40 on the parallel market respectively.

On May 1 2008, the RBZ announced that the dollar would be allowed to float in value subject to some conditions..

On May 6 2008, the RBZ issued new $100 million and $250 million bearer cheques.. At the date of first issue the $250 million bearer cheque was worth approximately US$1.30 on the parallel market. On May 15 2008, a new $500 million bearer cheque was issued by the RBZ. At time of first issue it was worth US$1.93. In a widely unreported parallel move, on May 15 2008, the RBZ issued three "special agro-cheques" with face values $5 billion (at time of first issue - $19.30), $25 billion ($96.50) & $50 billion ($193). . It is further reported that the new agro-cheques can be used to buy any goods and services like the bearer cheques.

year Official exchange rate Parallel exchange rate
2000 38 56–70
2001 55 70–340
2002 55 380–1740
2003 55; 824 1400–6000
2004 824–5730 5500–6000
2005 5,730–26,003 6,400–100,000
2006 85,158–101,196
(250 revalued dollars)		 100,000–550,000
(550–3,000 revalued dollars)
2007 250 revalued dollars
30,000 revalued dollars (Sept)		 3,000–2,000,000 revalued dollars
(4,000,000 revalued dollars - see note)
2008 (Jan) 30,000 revalued dollars 5,000,000 - 7,500,000 revalued dollars
2008 (Feb) 30,000 revalued dollars 20,000,000 revalued dollars
2008 (Mar) 30,000 revalued dollars 35 - 70,000,000 revalued dollars
2008 (Apr) 30,000 revalued dollars 35 - 241,750,000 revalued dollars
2008 (May) 30,000 revalued dollars 193 - 869,850,000 revalued dollars
2008 (June) 30,000 revalued dollars 969,130,000 - 34,911,000,000 revalued dollars
Note(1): Official rates quoted are Government set exchange rates. Parallel (Black market) rates differ significantly.

Note(2): Due to the Dec 2007 cash shortage, a rate of 4,000,000 revalued dollars was available on electronic funds transfers.

Note(3): Some news agencies are reporting exchange rates in terms of the weight of Zimbabwe dollar bearer cheques that can be purchased.

Note(4): ZimbabweanEquities.com publishes daily updates on the Zim$:US$ rate based on the trading values of stocks on the Harare and other stock markets, calculating an implied value for the Zim$

Poverty and unemployment are both endemic in Zimbabwe, driven by the shrinking economy and hyper-inflation. Both unemployment and poverty rates run near 80%.

As of January 2006, the official poverty line was ZWD 17,200 per month (17c US). However, as of March 2008 this had risen to ZWD 875 million per month (US $35.00) . Most general labourers are paid under ZWD 250 million (US $10) per month .

Salaries for most government employees range from 200 million to 500 million Zimbabwe dollars (per month) and a union representing teachers making up the bulk of state workers is pushing for a wage hike to at least Z$1.7 billion to keep up with inflation.

The lowest 10% of Zimbabwe's population consume only 1.97% of the economy, while the highest 10% consume 40.42%. (1995). The current account balance of the country is negative, standing at around US -$517 million.

Government response

The 2007 Empowerment Bill to increase local ownership of economy is being drafted for presentation to parliament in July 2007. It is signed into law by President Mugabe on 7th March 2008. The law requires all White or foreign owned business to hand over 51 percent of their business to indigenous Zimbabweans. Many economists predict this will plunge the country into deeper economic woes.

In response to skyrocketing inflation the government has introduced price controls, but enforcement has been largely unsuccessful. Police have been sent in to enforce requirements that shopkeepers sell goods at a loss. This has resulted in hundreds of shop owners being arrested under accusations of not having lowered prices enough. Because of this, basic goods no longer appear on supermarket shelves and the supply of petrol is limited. This has diminished public transport. However, goods can usually be had for a high rate on the black market.

Gold

Production 27,114 kg. (1998) 7,017 kg. (2007)

Energy

Electricity
Production 8.877 billion kWh (2003)
Consumption 11.22 billion kWh (2003)
Exports 0 kWh (2003)
Imports 3.3 billion kWh (2003)

9.50% from D.R.Congo
19.0% from Mozambique
28.5% from Zambia
43.0% from South Africa

Oil
Production 0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Consumption 22,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Exports 0 bbl/day (2003)
Imports 23,000 bbl/day (2003)

See also

References

  1. "CIA - The World Factbook -- Burma". CIA. May 17, 2008. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Text "https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html" ignored (help)
  2. Virgins, potions, and AIDS in Zimbabwe, October 22, 2002. World Press.
  3. Steenkamp, Philip John (1994). Public Management in a Borderless Economy. p. 664. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. Outages short Zim revival, October 9, 2006. News24.
  5. Economy, 2002. Geography IQ
  6. Famine fears rooted in Zimbabwe crop failures, February 9, 2005. The New Farm.
  7. Jesse Jackson lambasts Mugabe, SA banks, June 20, 2006. Zimbabwe Situation.
  8. , U.S. Department of State, 2004
  9. The Zimbabwe Situation
  10. The Zimbabwe Situation
  11. The Zimbabwe Situation
  12. The Zimbabwe Situation
  13. "Fear and hope mingle as Harare awaits election results". www.thetimes.co.za. April 6, 2008. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Article.aspx?id= ignored (help)
  14. ^ "Zim dollar devalued". The Financial Gazette Zimbabwe. May 2, 2008. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |http://www.fingaz.co.zw/story.aspx?stid= ignored (help)
  15. "Zimbabwe's new $250m note". www.thetimes.co.za. May 6, 2008. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id= ignored (help)
  16. "Zimbabwe introduces new high denomination notes". http://www.afriquenligne.fr. May 6, 2008. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Text "http://www.afriquenligne.fr/news/africa-news/zimbabwe-introduces-new-high-denomination-notes-200805063085.html" ignored (help)
  17. "Introducing the new Zim note...". http://www.iol.co.za. May 15, 2008. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id= ignored (help)
  18. "RBZ Issues Agro Cheques". http://allafrica.com. May 21, 2008. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Text "http://allafrica.com/stories/200805210105.html" ignored (help)
  19. "Britain 'behind' BA's pullout". www.news24.com. January 9, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. "Zim poverty line hits $100m". www.fin24.co.za. January 10, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. "A Zimbabwean beggar poses with wads of Z$200,000 notes in the capital, Harare, where on the black market Z$200,000 is worth one US cent". news.bbc.co.uk. February 27, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  22. "Zimbabwe dollar in dramatic fall". www.earthtimes.org. February 27, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. "Zimbabwe opposition wants to float currency". Reuters. March 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. "Cash Shortage Resurfaces as Zimbabwe Currency Plunges Further". Bloomberg. March 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. "Zim dollar in freefall". fin24.co.za. March 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. "Zimbabwe Business Watch : Week 11". Zimbabwe Situation. March 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. "Africa in Pictures March 15-21 (Picture 9)". BBC News. March 21, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. "Zimbabwean Dollar Slumps as Residents Rush for Foreign Currency". Bloomberg. March 19, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ "Old Mutual Implied Rate". ZimbabweanEquities.com. April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Cite error: The named reference "ab" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  30. "Zimbabwe inflation at record level". Al Jazeera. March 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ "How to stay alive when it all runs out". The Economist. July 12, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. CIA World Fact Book 2003 http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2003/geos/zi.html
  33. http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/jul28b_2006.html#Z2 Zimbabwe Budget puts government at ZWD 253 trillion in the red. (2006-07-27)
  34. 2007 Empowerment Bill (2007-06-09) Zimbabwe Situation
  35. | DailyComet.com | The Thibodaux Daily Comet | Thibodaux, LA

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