Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mushayavanhu is sticking to his guns (or should we say, gold bars?) with his bold claim that the local currency, ZiG, can only be strong if it’s backed by gold pound for pound. Because, clearly, the rest of the world has been doing it wrong for centuries.

 

Launched in April 2024, the ZiG has been on a wild ride, losing nearly 80% of its value on the black market and 94% since its launch. But hey, who needs a stable currency when you’ve got gold, right? Mushayavanhu insists there’s currency and inflation stability, despite the numbers saying otherwise.

Mushayavanhu claims Zimbabwe has $700 million worth of gold reserves to back the ZiG17 billion local currency in circulation. Because, apparently, that’s how you ensure stability – by tying your currency to a shiny rock. Never mind that most currencies today are fiat units, and economic fundamentals like inflation, interest rates, and GDP growth actually matter.

 

A country’s economic health, trade balance, and market sentiment all impact its currency’s value. But Mushayavanhu seems stuck in the past, clinging to the gold standard like it’s the only way to go. Meanwhile, the ZiG continues to plummet, and the nation wonders if their governor is living in a parallel universe.

Mushayavanhu’s performance as governor has been, shall we say, “interesting.” With a dash of creativity and a pinch of stubbornness, he’s trying to make gold-backed currency work in a world that’s moved on from such ideas.

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