As Its Economy Worsens, Zimbabwe Teeters on the Edge of Chaos

A man displays Zimbabwe's new two-dollar banknotes on Nov. 12. The Zimbabwean government recently introduced small-denomination notes to help mitigate ongoing cash shortages across the country.

Editor's Note: This assessment is part of a series of analyses supporting Stratfor's 2020 Annual Forecast. These assessments are designed to provide more context and in-depth analysis of key developments over the next quarter and throughout the year. After a trying 2019, 2020 looks to be no better for Zimbabwe as a foreign currency shortage continues to ravage its import-reliant economy. Fuel and food shortages spurred angry protests that ended in a violent security crackdown in January 2019. Ever since, President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration has tried to address Zimbabwe's systemic economic weaknesses by floating and reshaping its currency and restricting the use of the U.S. dollar — but to no avail. Desperate for revenue, the government is also now attempting to attract mining investment.