[Nethra K Putti]

ZIMBABWE LAUNCHES $2,00,000 NOTE

Zimbabwe is to start circulating a new 200,000 Zimbabwe dollar note, in a bid to tackle country's inflation, the highest in the World.

The new note, issued by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe from Wednesday, can buy 1kg (2.2lb) of sugar.
Food & Fuel shortages have become common as the government relies more heavily on imports , pushing prices to new heights.
The official annual rate of inflation in Zimbabwe is more than 4,500%.

Shortages:
the new note worth US $13 at the official exchange rate or $1 on the bank market. Zimbabwe's government has created a commission to find a way to control soaring living costs. The new banknote comes after IMF forecasts that by the end of 2007 , prices will be 1000 times higher than they were a year earlier.

Economic MeltDown :
Inflation = 4500 %
Unemployment = 80 %
3.3 mln - 25% of the population need food aid.
3 million left the country.

--source:Australian broadcasting.