Small change sparks fights in coin-starved Zimbabwe

Shouting matches and even physical fights break out each time a mini-bus pulls up to drop off passengers at a crowded bus stop in Harare.

It's all about not getting short-changed. Hyperinflation forced Zimbabwe to trash its worthless local currency three years ago in a move that brought much needed relief to the crippled economy but created a surprising new headache: a lack of coins.

"Change is a big problem, and at the same time passengers are impatient with us. I have been slapped a few times for not having change for them," said a bus conductor Walter Chakawata.

The US dollar and the rand from neighbouring South Africa are Zimbabwe's main adopted currencies. The dollar, however, is preferred and all prices are pegged to it.

But there is not enough US small change in circulation.

The result is that prices are either rounded off -- making goods and services more expensive -- or customers brace themselves for a fight to get their change.

AFP