HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - Zimbabwean authorities have arrested more than 2,000 people accused of money laundering since the introduction last week of a currency reform intended to tame the world's highest inflation rate and prop up the teetering economy. The Reserve Bank last week knocked off the final three digits from the currency - thus 100,000 Zimbabwe dollars became 100 Zimbabwe dollars.
| The lira, I knew it well. |
It also gave a deadline of Aug. 21 for exchanging the old notes but set limits on how much individuals and businesses could deposit without having to answer questions about the origins of the money.
"Where'dja get the wheelbarrow of money?"
"I earned the money, honest!"
"Nevermind the money, where'dja get the wheelbarrow?" |
The government also warned it would not tolerate threats against Central Bank chief Gideon Gono, who pushed through the reforms last week, the Herald reported. Gono said the reforms are vital to try to bring down inflation, the highest in the world at nearly 1,200 percent. The measures - which have caused confusion among beleaguered Zimbabweans about the real worth of their money - have met with opposition.
| Maybe if he stopped printing money, put a cork on corruption and persuaded Bob to take an extended vacation he'd be seen as doing his job. |
On Thursday, a gang of four armed men in an unregistered sports utility vehicle tried to storm a business project of Gono, demanding his residential address. On Friday, a fire gutted part of his farm, destroying some of his maize crop, according to the Herald. Gono said he would not be deterred. "There is no amount of intimidation that will force me to abandon the task at hand," the newspaper quoted him as saying.
State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa pledged full support for Gono. "Government is not happy with the threats directed at Dr. Gono," Mutasa said. "The actions are very deplorable. We take the threats very seriously and let me warn those who want to derail our economic recovery program that they will be arrested and brought to justice."
| "He's one of our boyz, so don't mess with him!" |
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