Zimbabwe’s Public Account Hits $217

Revelation 6:5,6 NCV When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse, and its rider held a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard something that sounded like a voice coming from the middle of the four living creatures. The voice said, "A quart of wheat for a day's pay, and three quarts of barley for a day's pay, and do not damage the olive oil and wine!"

Zimbabwe’s public account for paying government bills hit $217 last week.

Not $217 million. $217.

Payments by the government to civil servants left the entire government so poor that they couldn’t afford to buy an iPhone.

The news comes as the current government is claiming it cannot afford to hold an election for a new president and for a new constitution. The cost for the election is estimated to be $200 million.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti had released the information about the low funds to the BBC but then later turned around and attacked the press for reporting the information. He called journalists “malicious” and that no one should assume the country could become insolvent.

However, Zimbabwe’s extremely high unemployment means a low base for tax revenues.

“The minister for Greece has an even worse story,” Biti told the BBC when asked about the unemployment and income issue.

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