OREANDA-NEWS  The Zimbabwean authorities would like to start direct purchases of Russian oil, but this is hampered by the inability to make payments in US dollars, since the African country is under sanctions. In this regard, the republic offers to pay for raw materials with its own currency — Zimbabwean dollars. Christopher Mutsvangwa, the speaker of Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party.

According to him, national banks could find a way to convert the Russian ruble and the Zimbabwean dollar. This can be helped, for example, by gold mining in the African Republic, which continues to grow.

Currently, countries use the dollar for their trade through foreign banks that do not fall under US sanctions. "We need to find a way that will not restrict our trade in the US dollar, we no longer need it to trade with each other," the politician urged.

He also asked for help in building infrastructure for access to the sea through Mozambique and an oil pipeline through that country. Zimbabwe needs the construction of ports, railways, generation and distribution of electricity, and in these matters the country would like to cooperate with Russia. Mutsvangwa assured that the republic is on the verge of a great economic leap.

By the end of 2022, Zimbabwe became the country with the highest inflation in the world, which amounted to 243.8 percent. In 2009, the republic decided to abandon its currency due to hyperinflation (more than 200 million percent per year), due to which banknotes did not have time to print. In 2019, the circulation of the Zimbabwean dollar was resumed, but it was not possible to stabilize the country's financial system.