HARARE: The African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim) yesterday gave Zimbabwe a $100m loan to allow its central bank to set up an inter-bank market for the first time in five years, which would allow the apex bank to influence interest rates.
The southern African state abandoned its own money in 2009 after hyperinflation rendered it worthless, and adopted foreign currencies such as the US dollar and South Africa’s rand which left the central bank unable to influence rates.
Money market rates have spiralled out of control as a result, with bank deposits attracting returns as low as 0.15 percent while borrowing costs are quoted as high as 35 percent — a prohibitive rate for farmers and manufacturers.
The central bank will use the $100m to re-introduce an inter-bank market — where local banks can borrow from others with surpluses — and set an overnight accommodation interest rate, which would act as the benchmark for market rates.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the fund was
part of measures to improve liquidity in an economy facing declining export earnings
and companies that are struggling to survive.
“This will at the very least unlock surplus funds from surplus banks for those in deficit,” Chinamasa told a press
conference.Reuters
