Zimbabwe seeks to import US coins

Zimbabwe is in talks with US financial authorities to import American coins, after dollarisation left the country without any change, Finance Minister Tendai Biti said Thursday in state media. "Efforts to import small dollar coins to ease the small change problem are continuing, with the Bankers' Association of Zimbabwe now spearheading the process in liaison with US financial authorities," he said in The Herald newspaper. "It is envisaged that the coins will be availed before the end of the year," he said. Zimbabwe abandoned its local currency in 2009, after years of hyperinflation left it worthless. Now the government allows trade in major foreign currencies, but the US dollar has taken over as the currency of reference. US banknotes are now readily available, but the country has no coins. If shoppers make a purchase that doesn't total an even dollar amount, they are forced to buy candies or other small items to make up the difference. Otherwise they receive a handwritten IOU on the back of their till slip, redeemable back at the same shop.