Zimbabwe: Attitude of Gratitude

From Trillions to Naught

At its most critical and dire time of need in 2008, the people of Zimbabwe found supermarket shelves empty and their currency inflated to trillions of dollars.

With empty pockets and nothing to buy, many were left wondering where their next meal would come from.

To make financial woes and food shortages worse, the government, in the midst of a presidential run-off election, would not allow outside aid for fear of political motivation, unless the aid was distributed through a local church.

The economic crisis began in June 2007 when Zimbabwe’s economy experienced inflation and the government attempted to combat it by requiring retailers to cut prices in half.

Price blitzing became so frequent, often occurring two or three times each day, businesses were unable to restock their shelves. Supermarkets kept their stock low to avoid the fluctuating prices and many times would only stock a few shelves in the entire store

“You would walk into a large supermarket and all the shelves would be empty except maybe three on the end of an aisle, where they may have cleaning supplies or juice,” said IMB missionary Quinn Morgan who has served at the Baptist Publishing House in Bulawayo for more than 30 years.. “They would rope off the small section in the whole store where they still had a few things.”

Large retailers from South Africa were ready to send stock to their stores in Zimbabwe but wanted to be sure the price blitzing would not continue. As these retailers began restocking, prices were double the norm on the imported goods and too expensive for people to buy.

As inflation continued, Zimbabweans began to see their currency rise from common low denominations to millions, billions and eventually trillions.

“Each time a larger denomination was released, that amount became equivalent to one (American) dollar,” Morgan said.

Because the Zimbabwe dollars were constantly devaluing, wages lost half their value in a matter of days, forcing people to either spend their wages immediately or purchase foreign currency.

“We kept very little money in the bank for the publishing house and would immediately purchase supplies as money came in,” Morgan said.

By the end of 2008, the Zimbabwe currency, with its largest denomination being a 100 trillion dollar bill, became worthless except to tourists seeking unique souvenirs. The economy began operating on the United States dollar and the South African rand.

“Its one of those indescribable situations, it’s just not reality,” said Morgan’s wife, Martha. “It’s tough to explain; others can’t comprehend because I can’t even comprehend.”

Supermarkets are stocked again but merchandise is priced in foreign currency that is hard to come by for many Zimbabweans.

“People are still hungry because they can’t afford to buy the food,” Martha Morgan said.

The Morgans are often asked how they have survived in a country facing such challenging financial times.

“By God’s grace,” Quinn Morgan said. “We’ve been truly blessed by the Lord.”