Zimbabwe's central bank is releasing a new 50 billion dollar note -- enough to buy three newspapers in the nation's hyper-inflated economy. The new note is worth $1.25 at today's black market exchange rate. Two weeks ago 50 billion dollar note was worth $3.30.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe unveiled the new 20 billion and 50 billion dollar notes in an advertisement in today's Herald newspaper.
Local currency is so scarce that most shops demand US dollars or South African rand.
Zimbabwe's economy is in meltdown amid a months-long political crisis over President Robert Mugabe sharing power with the opposition and acute shortages. Lack of clean water has caused a cholera epidemic that has killed nearly 2,000 people.
