Zimbabwe Dollarisation
Dec 9, 2008 | 9:10 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: RSA
Programs: SAA Voyager Lifetime Plat
Posts: 141
Zimbabwe Dollarisation
For any of you planning a trip to Zimbabwe in the near future, it will be interesting to know that the economy has almost entirely dollarised, and almost anything can be purchased with US$ now.
Local currency is almost impossible to get due to restrictions on the amount you can withdraw from the bank, causing the greenback to be the de facto everyday currency
A imported beer at the Royal Harare Golf Club will cost you $2 for a 340 ml can, while a local beer in a 750 ml bottle (known as a bomber or a quart) costs $2 as well. A meal will cost about $10. Caddy fees are $5 for 18 holes.
One dollar bills are at a premium, and it is difficult to obtain the correct change for larger notes. Rands are also accepted, and as the exchange rate at the moment is about 10 rand to a dollar it is easy to use rands for smaller purchases.
When you are presented with a bill at a restaurant, it will be in Zim dollars (many millions) but the US$ equivalent will be circled at the top of the bill.
I have a receipt for breakfast for four people which cost 82 million Zim dollars or US$ 30.
Local currency is almost impossible to get due to restrictions on the amount you can withdraw from the bank, causing the greenback to be the de facto everyday currency
A imported beer at the Royal Harare Golf Club will cost you $2 for a 340 ml can, while a local beer in a 750 ml bottle (known as a bomber or a quart) costs $2 as well. A meal will cost about $10. Caddy fees are $5 for 18 holes.
One dollar bills are at a premium, and it is difficult to obtain the correct change for larger notes. Rands are also accepted, and as the exchange rate at the moment is about 10 rand to a dollar it is easy to use rands for smaller purchases.
When you are presented with a bill at a restaurant, it will be in Zim dollars (many millions) but the US$ equivalent will be circled at the top of the bill.
I have a receipt for breakfast for four people which cost 82 million Zim dollars or US$ 30.
Dec 9, 2008 | 11:24 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 230
When I was there about a year ago the bill for lunch was 8 million zimbabwae dollars or about $10 - 15 US and everything was paid for in dollars then as well. It sounds like the prices are now ten times as much.
Dec 10, 2008 | 1:43 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Programs: NZ Elite
Posts: 6,518
A frind of mine works in the Finance section of "DFAT" (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)..
The financial documentation they receive from Harare carries a caveat that 16 zeros have been removed from all numbers in order to have them fit in the spaces available....
Something has to give in that poor bloody country!
The financial documentation they receive from Harare carries a caveat that 16 zeros have been removed from all numbers in order to have them fit in the spaces available....
Something has to give in that poor bloody country!
Apr 8, 2009 | 9:36 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Portland, Maine
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, HYATT Globalist, HH Diamond, AA Plat Pro, MR Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,196
For any of you planning a trip to Zimbabwe in the near future, it will be interesting to know that the economy has almost entirely dollarised, and almost anything can be purchased with US$ now.
Local currency is almost impossible to get due to restrictions on the amount you can withdraw from the bank, causing the greenback to be the de facto everyday currency
A imported beer at the Royal Harare Golf Club will cost you $2 for a 340 ml can, while a local beer in a 750 ml bottle (known as a bomber or a quart) costs $2 as well. A meal will cost about $10. Caddy fees are $5 for 18 holes.
One dollar bills are at a premium, and it is difficult to obtain the correct change for larger notes. Rands are also accepted, and as the exchange rate at the moment is about 10 rand to a dollar it is easy to use rands for smaller purchases.
When you are presented with a bill at a restaurant, it will be in Zim dollars (many millions) but the US$ equivalent will be circled at the top of the bill.
I have a receipt for breakfast for four people which cost 82 million Zim dollars or US$ 30.
Local currency is almost impossible to get due to restrictions on the amount you can withdraw from the bank, causing the greenback to be the de facto everyday currency
A imported beer at the Royal Harare Golf Club will cost you $2 for a 340 ml can, while a local beer in a 750 ml bottle (known as a bomber or a quart) costs $2 as well. A meal will cost about $10. Caddy fees are $5 for 18 holes.
One dollar bills are at a premium, and it is difficult to obtain the correct change for larger notes. Rands are also accepted, and as the exchange rate at the moment is about 10 rand to a dollar it is easy to use rands for smaller purchases.
When you are presented with a bill at a restaurant, it will be in Zim dollars (many millions) but the US$ equivalent will be circled at the top of the bill.
I have a receipt for breakfast for four people which cost 82 million Zim dollars or US$ 30.
Shumba,
Do you remember when you were there the cost of the VISA?
I have read the other threads but I am very confused.
Also how was the "safety" feeling during your trip. I am traveling with my family to VFA in a week - from USA.
Tasnam
Aug 20, 2009 | 1:05 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Alabama
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 158
A frind of mine works in the Finance section of "DFAT" (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)..
The financial documentation they receive from Harare carries a caveat that 16 zeros have been removed from all numbers in order to have them fit in the spaces available....
Something has to give in that poor bloody country!
The financial documentation they receive from Harare carries a caveat that 16 zeros have been removed from all numbers in order to have them fit in the spaces available....
Something has to give in that poor bloody country!