Funds are part of IMF’s record $650bn allocation to member nations
24 August 2021 - 15:24
byNELSON BANYA
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Zimbabwean finance minister Mthuli Ncube. Picture: REUTERS
Zimbabwe’s government said on Tuesday it has received the equivalent of $961m in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the International Monetary Fund, part of $650bn the IMF is distributing to its members.
The IMF’s largest-ever distribution of monetary reserves will provide additional liquidity for the global economy, supplementing member countries’ foreign exchange reserves and reducing their reliance on more expensive domestic or external debt.
SDRs are reserve assets issued by the IMF, backed by dollars, euros, yen, sterling and yuan. “The immediate effect of this support from the IMF is to increase the foreign exchange reserves position of the country by $961-million,” finance minister Mthuli Ncube and central bank governor John Mangudya said in a joint statement.
“This will go a long way in buttressing the stability of the domestic economy.”
Zimbabwe reintroduced its currency, the Zimbabwe dollar, in 2019 after a decade of dollarisation. However, the local unit has been unstable as a result of critical foreign currency shortages. The Zimbabwe dollar is officially trading at $86 against the US dollar, but is significantly weaker, at $150 on a thriving black market.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Cash strapped Zimbabwe gets $961m from IMF
Funds are part of IMF’s record $650bn allocation to member nations
Zimbabwe’s government said on Tuesday it has received the equivalent of $961m in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the International Monetary Fund, part of $650bn the IMF is distributing to its members.
The IMF’s largest-ever distribution of monetary reserves will provide additional liquidity for the global economy, supplementing member countries’ foreign exchange reserves and reducing their reliance on more expensive domestic or external debt.
SDRs are reserve assets issued by the IMF, backed by dollars, euros, yen, sterling and yuan. “The immediate effect of this support from the IMF is to increase the foreign exchange reserves position of the country by $961-million,” finance minister Mthuli Ncube and central bank governor John Mangudya said in a joint statement.
“This will go a long way in buttressing the stability of the domestic economy.”
Zimbabwe reintroduced its currency, the Zimbabwe dollar, in 2019 after a decade of dollarisation. However, the local unit has been unstable as a result of critical foreign currency shortages. The Zimbabwe dollar is officially trading at $86 against the US dollar, but is significantly weaker, at $150 on a thriving black market.
Reuters
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