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[QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 43306, member: 636"]
Zimbabwe's gold-backed money has complete reserve backing according to central bank officials. The Reserve Bank kept interest rates at 35 percent on Monday and reported $701 million in total reserves. Zimbabwe Gold currency usage jumped from 26 percent to 43 percent between April and May. Most people still prefer US dollars for daily purchases after decades of economic problems. Leaders hope the gold backing will convince citizens to trust their national currency again.

Black market prices remain 20 percent higher than official exchange rates despite recent stability. Trader Pearson Tambudze says the currency stays steady because limited amounts exist rather than renewed public confidence. The International Monetary Fund wants Zimbabwe to control money growth better and clear $12.2 billion in foreign debt. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube expects to raise $2.6 billion in bridge financing within two years. Foreign investors stay cautious about putting money into Zimbabwe's economy.

Reserve levels cover just 0.8 months of imports compared to the recommended three-month safety buffer. Economist Lyle Begbie believes paying back multilateral creditors should come first. Previous IMF programs failed within 15 months of starting. Oxford Economics predicts similar outcomes for future assistance efforts.
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