The government of Zimbabwe launched a new, but still unofficial currency. Debates arise as whether the development may be enough to ease the country’s severe cash shortages.

A month after its introduction, Zimbabwe’s new currency gave greater freedom to Forex trading. However, further devaluation and inflationary pressures showing few signs of easing, the monetary measures could risk sinking Zimbabwe deeper into crisis.

The trading of the newly introduced RTGS dollar should be free, but in Zimbabwe’s banks, trading is severely restricted. The former finance minister and senior opposition leader Tendai Biti, who describes the RTGS dollar as “rubbish”, said the new currency is bound to fail.