Public Information Notice No. 09/53

Public Information Notice: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2009 Article IV Consultation with Zimbabwe

May 6, 2009

On May 4, 2009 the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Zimbabwe.¹

Background

Economic and social indicators in Zimbabwe worsened significantly in 2008. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to have fallen by about 14 percent in 2008 (on top of a 40 percent cumulative decline during the period of 2000–07) due to economic disruptions caused by hyperinflation and a further significant deterioration in the business climate. Poverty and unemployment have risen to catastrophic levels, with 70 percent of the population in need of food assistance and a cholera epidemic claiming more than 4,000 lives.

In 2008, quasi-fiscal activities undertaken by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) increased in the context of weak RBZ governance. They are estimated at US$1.1 billion (36 percent of GDP) in 2008, and included election-related expenses, transfers to parastatals, subsidized directed lending, subsidized provision of equipment and fertilizers to farmers, and allocation of foreign exchange at subsidized exchange rates. Besides monetization, these activities were financed by surrender requirements on export proceeds, the retention of foreign exchange earnings of the gold and agricultural sectors in excess of mandatory surrender requirements, a freeze of most foreign currency deposits, external borrowing, and purchases of foreign exchange at the parallel market exchange rates. These large operations unrelated to central banking core activities were conducted in the context of weak oversight of RBZ operations. Key governance weaknesses include lack of enforcement of the RBZ Act’s accountability requirements and noncompliance with the International Financial Reporting Standards.

The central government’s revenue and expenditure effectively collapsed in 2008. With economic decline and hyperinflation eroding the real value of accrued tax liabilities, budget revenue fell from almost US$1 billion (25 percent of GDP) in 2005 to US$133 million (4 percent of GDP) in 2008. Expenditure shrank from about US$1.4 billion (37 percent of GDP) in 2005 to US$258 million (8 percent of GDP) in 2008 causing an almost complete collapse in the provision of public services, including a significant reduction in electricity generation capacity, collapse of water supply, and major disruptions in railway services.

Unprecedented hyperinflation led to the disappearance of the local currency and a contraction of the financial system in 2008. Fueled by the monetization of the RBZ’s quasi-fiscal operations, twelve-month CPI inflation is estimated to have peaked in September 2008 at almost 500 billion (10⁹) percent. Since October–November 2008, the local currency has virtually disappeared from circulation and dollarization has gained momentum. The banking system shrank, as reflected in deposits that declined from almost US$1 billion at end-2005 to about US$300 million (of which local currency-denominated deposits amounted to an equivalent of US$6 million) at end-2008.

With the demise of the Zimbabwe dollar hyperinflation has stopped. De facto dollarization was recognized by the official transition to use of hard currencies for transactions and adoption of the rand as the reference currency in early 2009. Under this monetary system, transactions in hard currencies are authorized, payments of most taxes are mandatory in foreign exchange, trading at the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange is conducted in foreign exchange, and many foreign exchange restrictions on current account transactions are liberalized. During January–February 2009, the CPI in U.S. dollar terms experienced a decline.

The short-term macroeconomic outlook is uncertain. The government’s short-term emergency recovery program and the revised 2009 budget contain a number of important macroeconomic and structural policy commitments which, if fully implemented and supported by donor assistance, could lay the foundation for a private sector-led economic recovery in a low-inflation environment. However, there are significant downside risks to the economic recovery due to potential policy reversals.

Executive Board Assessment

A decade of high inflation, severe economic decline, and rising poverty has culminated in an acute, ongoing humanitarian crisis. Directors considered that Zimbabwe is now at a critical juncture. They welcomed the efforts by the recently formed government of national unity to seize the historic opportunity to improve prospects for economic growth and poverty reduction by forging the necessary political consensus among all stakeholders for ambitious reforms.

Directors welcomed the authorities’ Short-Term Emergency Recovery Program (STERP) that is based on sound principles of macroeconomic management. They underscored that following through with the STERP’s commitment to establish fiscal discipline, eliminate quasi-fiscal activities, maintain a multi-currency monetary framework, and accelerate structural reforms would be essential for an economic turnaround in a low-inflation environment. However, Directors cautioned that downside risks were significant. Potential political instability and limited implementation capacity may undermine reform and stabilization efforts, weakening the prospects for mobilizing donor financial support and attracting private capital inflows.

Directors underscored the importance of establishing fiscal discipline while ensuring the delivery of essential public services. They were encouraged by the authorities’ intentions to improve tax administration and review the tax regime to increase budget revenues. Directors emphasized that the budgeted wage bill needs to be maintained and spending pressures from parastatals to finance nonessential activities should be resisted to leave sufficient resources for critical social needs and infrastructure. They also called for rapid progress in strengthening the public financial management system. Given the sizable unfilled financing gap and the necessity to cover critical humanitarian expenses, Directors encouraged the authorities to intensify their efforts to establish workable budget aid delivery mechanisms in close cooperation with the donor community. Directors noted that Zimbabwe is in debt distress and large financing gaps would persist over the medium term even if policies were improved.

Given the circumstances, Directors supported the authorities’ decision to anchor inflation expectations by introducing a multi-currency system with the rand as the reference currency. They also emphasized that a significant strengthening of governance and transparency, including through an independent audit, at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is urgently needed to enhance the credibility and durability of recent macroeconomic policies. Directors concurred that reintroduction of the national currency should await the establishment of a credible institutional framework that would underpin central bank operations with a focus on price stability.

Directors noted that banking system issues need to be addressed to improve payment services and access to credit. They underscored that the payments system, banking supervision, and liquidity management would need to be attuned to the requirements of the multi-currency monetary framework.

Directors underscored that the revival of the economy depends critically on quickly attracting private domestic and foreign investors and improving competitiveness. It is essential that the government ensures the protection of property rights, maintains the rule of law, guards against protectionism, and pursues prudent wage and income policies. Directors emphasized that recent commendable efforts to liberalize prices and exchange restrictions for current account transactions needed to be sustained. They also stressed the importance of improving the quality and timeliness of data.

Directors observed that a track record of sound policy implementation, supported by targeted technical assistance, including related statistics, from the Fund and other international financial institutions, is a critical first step to securing donor financial support for the reconstruction of Zimbabwe’s economy and regularizing its arrears to official creditors.