Debt - external:
$3.9 billion (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$178 million (2000 est.)

Currency:
Zimbabwean dollar (ZWD)

Currency code:
ZWD

Exchange rates:
Zimbabwean dollars per US dollar - 55 (2002), 55.05 (2001), 44.42
(2000), 38.3 (1999), 23.68 (1998)

Fiscal year:
1 January - 31 December

Communications Zimbabwe

Telephones - main lines in use: 212,000 (in addition, there are about 20,000 fixed telephones in wireless local loop connections) (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
111,000 (2001)

Telephone system:
general assessment: system was once one of the best in Africa, but
now suffers from poor maintenance; more than 100,000 outstanding
requests for connection despite an equally large number of installed
but unused main lines
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines,
radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop
installations, and a substantial mobile cellular network; Internet
connection is available in Harare and planned for all major towns
and for some of the smaller ones
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; two
international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare and Gweru)