Zimbabwe Running Out of Paper Currency

I was reading an article in the Chicago Tribune about how Zimbabwe may soon run out of paper to print currency.

Their German supplier halted shipments because of concerns about the recent election violence.

The state owned printing company then laid off 2/3 of its workforce - cutting from 3 shifts down to 1.

This company, Fidelity Printers and Refiners, is a key to Mugabe's power because he uses the money they print to pay his police, soldiers, and agents.

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing extreme hyperinflation. Last year, they were printing 1 million dollar notes. Today, the highest bill is 50 billion Zimbabwe dollars (equal to 1 dollar on the street).

One beer now costs 150 billion Zimbabwe dollars.