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Zimbabwe is now exchanging 40 US cents for $100,000,000,000,000

“I used it as garden manure. Why would I have kept that dirt?”

Zimbabwe Money File photo of a woman holding a $100 trillion Zimbabwean note Associated Press Associated Press

ZIMBABWE’S CENTRAL BANK is taking banknotes from its old currency, in return for American dollars.

The exchange rate? $40c for $100,000,000,000,000.

That’s 40 cents, for every 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollars, from the African nation’s old currency.

In 2009, Zimbabwe abandoned its currency for a system dominated by the US dollar and the South African rand after inflation hit 230,000,000% (that’s 230 million percent).

Back then, even street sellers refused to accept the $100 trillion dollar notes that were issued.

Starting on Monday, stacks of old Zimbabwean bills can be exchanged for U.S dollars. The offer is part of what the central bank says is an overdue plan to phase out the currency entirely.

ZIMBABWE MONEY A Zimbabwean man laughs while holding a crisp $10 million note, in 2008. Associated Press Associated Press

However, some people in the capital, said they got rid of their Zimbabwean dollars long ago.

“I used it as garden manure,” said Isaac Mutezowepasi, a street vendor. “Why would I have kept that dirt?”

Others said they still have heaps of old dollar notes at home, but won’t respond to the government offer.

“I am keeping them for my grandchildren to see. Plus I know I will get more for them in future because these Zimdollars are going to be in demand,” said Tendai Nyaundi, a graphic designer.

Others have turned to eBay to get a better deal than the astronomically bad exchange rate offered by the Central Bank.

zimdollars eBay eBay

Contains reporting by the Associated Press.

Read: Zimbabwe’s finance minister: ‘The government has €161 in the bank’>

Read: Elephants were slaughtered as part of Robert Mugabe’s million dollar 91st birthday bash>

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43 Comments
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    Mute Mark Nunan
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    Oct 28th 2020, 10:26 AM

    Grande Phil in big trouble so.

    309
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    Mute Kev
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    Oct 28th 2020, 10:48 AM

    “We dont want news like this to emerge” = We don’t want to get caught.

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Oct 28th 2020, 3:38 PM

    @Kev: Caught doing what ? Did you miss the part about the event being in full compliance with all the protocols ? What he meant but was too polite to say was, “even when in full compliance with the rules, it’s best not to give the curtain-twitching politician haters any ammunition because they will twist the story to suit their agenda and the gullible will start believing it even though it’s buIIshlt”

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    Mute Shane McGrath
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    Oct 28th 2020, 10:28 AM

    Juan big mistake… The was Carlos of them at it….

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    Mute Robert Clifford
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    Oct 28th 2020, 10:36 AM

    @Shane McGrath: What?

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    Mute Kevin O'Brien
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    Oct 28th 2020, 10:49 AM

    @Robert Clifford: Pardon the pun!!

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    Mute The Bogger
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    Oct 28th 2020, 11:44 AM

    @Robert Clifford: Qué??

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    Mute Lee Galiezitte
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    Oct 28th 2020, 2:05 PM

    @Shane McGrath: Diago Away

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    Mute Kevin O'Brien
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    Oct 28th 2020, 10:53 AM

    It’s comforting to know that it’s not just our politicians who are mórons (the fada is for toxicity reasons) Top tip btw.

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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    Oct 28th 2020, 11:21 AM

    @Kevin O’Brien: I don’t think there is anything toxic about the word ‘mоrоn’. You could call them much worse!

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    Mute Kevin O'Brien
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    Oct 28th 2020, 11:27 AM

    @Earth Traveller: It came up as 8.3 for me & bright red. Scary stuff haha. But yes, I could call them much worse.

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    Mute Peter Cronin-Rahill
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    Oct 28th 2020, 10:33 AM

    RE separation of powers – it is up the Oireachtas, by joint resolution in both Houses, to remove a judge (or president for that matter!) From office, if they are found to have brought the Judiciary into disrepute, or for stated misbehaviour. So for any Government TD to wash their hands of Judge Seamus Woulfe is incorrect and rather embarrassing!

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    Mute Thomas Quinn
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    Oct 28th 2020, 10:34 AM

    Did they not learn from our Golf Gate lol

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    Mute Peter Coen
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    Oct 28th 2020, 11:03 AM

    Do as I say, not what I do.

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    Mute Kevin O'Brien
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    Oct 28th 2020, 11:07 AM

    @Peter Coen: Not as i do.

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    Mute Peter Coen
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    Oct 28th 2020, 11:11 AM

    @Kevin O’Brien: thank you.

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    Mute Galwaygogo
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    Oct 28th 2020, 10:43 AM

    #Awardgate

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    Mute Shem
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    Oct 28th 2020, 11:46 AM

    Equivalent of our Golfgate.

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    Mute Keith Stubbs
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    Oct 28th 2020, 11:46 AM

    puerta de golf

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    Mute Eoin McCarthy
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    Oct 28th 2020, 11:55 AM

    Puerta de Golf

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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Oct 28th 2020, 2:15 PM

    @Eoin McCarthy:
    Oh, I’m sure their ministerial cars are bigger than that!

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    Mute Margaret Kane
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    Oct 28th 2020, 6:06 PM

    All government ministers think they are about the ordinary citizens do as I say not what I do

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