The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is the central bank

Central bank

A central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is a public institution that usually issues the currency, regulates the money supply, and controls the interest rates in a country. Central banks often also oversee the commercial banking system of their respective countries...

 of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...

.

History

The bank traces its history to the Bank of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, founded in March 1956, which in turn was the successor to the Central Currency Board.

The Reserve Bank has continued to function, and has grown in operations and staff, through a variety of changes in sovereignty and governmental structure in Rhodesia and Zimbabwe. The building in which it currently operates was officially opened by President Robert Mugabe

Robert Mugabe

Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...

 on May 31, 1996.

Structure

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act provides for a Board of Directors

Board of directors

A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...

 and a Governor

Governor

A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...

. The Governor, assisted by three deputy governors, is responsible for the day-to-day administration and operations of the bank. The current Governor is Gideon Gono

Gideon Gono

Gideon Gono is the current Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and former CEO of the Jewel Bank, formerly known as the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe...

.

The Governor and his three deputies are appointed by the president for five-year terms that may be renewed. The Governor also serves as chairman of the board

Chairman of the Board

The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...

. The board's membership includes the three deputies and a maximum of seven other non-executive directors, intended to represent key sectors of the economy.

Operations

The Reserve Bank's most important role is to create and enact monetary policies. According to the bank's website, as the only producer of Zimbabwe's bank notes and coins, it regulates the amount of money in circulation. However since a range of foreign currencies is currently in use for domestic transactions, the bank's ability to control money supply is limited. The Reserve Bank also looks after the country's gold and other assets, and serves as an advisor to the government and provides the government with daily banking services.

Relevancy

Due to the unstable economic conditions and failure to control inflation (2008), economists have suggested that the Reserve Bank be abolished. Some economists have suggested that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe be reformed. Legislation in 2008 was debated in the lower house of the Zimbabwean parliament with a view to limiting the so-called quasi-fiscal activities of the Reserve Bank.

See also

• Banknotes of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
• Central banks and currencies of Africa
  Central banks and currencies of Africa
  There are two African currency unions associated with multinational central banks; the West African Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest and the Central African Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale...
  
  
• Economy of Zimbabwe
  Economy of Zimbabwe
  The economy of Zimbabwe has shrunk significantly after 2000, resulting in a desperate situation for the country and widespread poverty from among others 94% unemployment. The participation from 1998 to 2002 in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo set the stage for this deterioration by...