MEFMI held an event to launch a book that chronicles the economic experience of Zimbabwe during the hyperinflation period. The book titled “ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT IN A HYPERINFLATIONARY ENVIRONMENT: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF ZIMBABWE 1980 – 2008” was launched on Friday, 18 March 2016 in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The event which was presided over by the MEFMI Executive Director, Dr Caleb Fundanga was attended by some Ambassadors from the MEFMI region resident in Zimbabwe, MEFMI Executive Committee members comprising Governors of the Central Banks of Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Permanent Secretary of the Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and economic Development as well as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and Assistant Governor of the Bank of Swaziland. Some contributors to the book, senior Government officials, academicians from universities and research institutions in Harare as well as representatives of international and civic society also attended the event.

The book, published by the Oxford University Press, was co-authored by Zimbabwe and International renowned researchers, some them had first-hand experience of the hyper-inflation period. The research was commissioned jointly by MEFMI and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). ACBF was represented at the event by the Director, Knowledge, Monitoring & Evaluation, Dr Thomas Munthali and staff from the Foundation.

The book encapsulates authoritative thematic-cum-sectoral perspectives on economic management under severe shocks that Zimbabwe underwent. It cuts across all sectors of the economy including agriculture, manufacturing, banking and other financial services sectors such as insurance and the pensions industry, tourism, monetary and fiscal policies, education and health, just to mention a few. Analysis of what transpired and coping mechanisms employed by economic agents have been well documented in this publication.

The issues covered in the book cut across most tenets of the Zimbabwean society, making the book an authoritative collection of knowledge and information on the hyper-inflation period. Comments by reviewers clearly show that this is a path-breaking piece of work that policy makers, researchers and students will find very useful. Policy makers, researchers and academicians will draw evidence gathered in the book to inform their policies, research work and for teaching at tertiary institutions, bequeathing the coming generations, within and outside Zimbabwe with a lot of relevant first-hand information which also covers the productive and social sectors.

Dr John Nhavira, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe who attended the book launch. noted that the book is a unique publication. “A people that forget the past are doomed to repeat their mistakes. This book will go a long way in retaining the memory of a terrible period in Zimbabwe’s monetary history.”

Gramsol Books (Zimbabwe) are authorised distributers of the Book in Zimbabwe. The book can also be purchased online at
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/economic-management-in-a-hyperinflationary-environment-9780198747505?cc=zm&lang=en&#.