Central Banks

ZiG Hits Streets as Zimbabwe Starts Circulating Gold-Back Notes

  • Circulation starts after central bank holds key rate at 20%
  • Interest rate maintained after positive market reaction to ZiG

John Mushayavanhu holds ZiG banknotes.

Photographer: Cynthia R Matonhodze/Bloomberg
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Zimbabwe’s central bank started circulating ZiG notes and coins among the public, a day after policymakers kept interest rates unchanged at their first meeting since unveiling the new currency.

The ZiG, short for Zimbabwe Gold, is the southern African nation’s sixth attempt since 2008 to deliver a stable domestic currency. It was announced on April 5 and transacting in the unit has been done electronically since trade started three days later.