Central bank chief Gideon Gono has compared Zimbabwe’s 1 730% inflation rate to the Aids pandemic and warned it cannot be tackled by the government alone, state media reported on Thursday.
”Inflation has ceased to be just the number one enemy. It is now actually the economic HIV of this country,” Gono said in remarks carried by the Herald newspaper.
”No single person or institution can deal with inflation. It has to be each and every one of us doing our part,” he said.
Zimbabwe has the highest rate of inflation in the world with the figure jumping by more than 130% last month alone.
The impact has led to a surge in the cost of living each month, which has in turn fuelled major unrest among workers whose wages cannot cover household bills.
Many Zimbabweans as a result now limit themselves to eating one meal a day while those who still have jobs usually cycle to work.
”Everyone is suffering from these price increases. The people here [Mashonaland East] are also experiencing daily price increases, isn’t it?” Gono was quoted as saying at a public meeting in Mashonaland.
”So we must all do our part to ensure that this does not continue.” — Sapa-AFP