Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown remains an enormous challenge affecting citizens from all
walks of life. The government’s 2009 introduction of various foreign currencies was welcomed by
many Zimbabweans who, after years of hyperinflation, witnessed a stabilization in general
consumer prices. But with lagging economic growth and a continuing drought, the country now
faces deflation and has even experienced reverse urbanization due to a lack of opportunities in
the cities. In November 2016, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, seeking to stimulate the economy and
incentivize exports, introduced a new medium of exchange – “bond notes” pegged at par
value with the U.S. dollar – in a move seen by many observers as intended to ease crippling cash
shortages but ultimately unsustainable. This paper examines public views on the economy and the introduction of bond notes. Findings show that Zimbabweans are still largely negative in their assessments of economic conditions in their country and their own households, and that only a minority expect bond notes to provide much relief.
