Nobody wanted the Zimbabwe dollar, so the southern African country dumped it for the US dollar in 2009 to stave off economic collapse and skyrocketing hyperinflation.
Now nobody wants the “bond coins” it put in circulation last month to replace the lollipops, chewing gum and pens that have been used in lieu of change for transactions in shops.
The new coins have the same denominations and value as US cents but can only be used in Zimbabwe.
Photo: Wang Chun-chieh, Liberty
照片: 自由時報記者王俊杰
Trouble is, not many people want to use them because they think they will not be able to persuade others to accept them. Some also fear the coins could be a first step towards the return of the dreaded Zimbabwe dollar.
The skepticism is rooted in the memories Zimbabweans have of hyperinflation, which reached 500 billion percent with prices changing more than twice a day before the government of President Robert Mugabe abandoned a currency that had been rendered worthless.
(Courtesy of the Liberty Times)
沒人想要辛巴威幣,所以這個南非國家在2009年揚棄辛巴威幣改用美元,以避免經濟崩潰與直衝雲霄的惡性通貨膨脹。
如今沒人想要辛巴威上個月開始流通的「債券硬幣」,它是要取代商店交易中被當作零錢使用的棒棒糖、口香糖以及原子筆。
這種新硬幣的面額和價值與美元相同,但只能在辛巴威使用。麻煩在於,並非很多人想要使用債券硬幣,因為他們認為會無法說服別人接受該硬幣。有些人也害怕該硬幣恐是重回可怕的辛巴威幣的第一步。
這種懷疑態度根植在辛巴威人民對惡性通貨膨脹的回憶,在總統穆加比政府揚棄早已變得毫無價值的貨幣之前,通膨率達到百分之五千億,物價一日甚至變動超過兩次。
(自由時報提供/翻譯:顧佳欣)
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