My longtime co-worker is a "zimbie" (as they call themselves). He was actually drafted during the civil war and lived thru it. After the civil war he escaped to South Africa and eventually migrated to UK (company I worked for had UK office where we met).

Too many stories to tell, but some that stick out.

• During hyperinflation suddenly coins get utility value. Soon everywhere you look coins have holes in them and are used as "washers" or spacers, etc. Why buy a washer for $500,000 ZWD when a 25c coin is so much cheaper?
• All prices disappear from store shelves, because the prices need to be adjusted so frequent, it would be physically impossible to adjust the prices constantly. Instead, there is a large blackboard in front of the store and a man there with chalk and a rag updating prices as you shop.
• Workers were paid 2x per day. Lunch and days-end. The wives would line up outside the office and husband would give her his lunch payment and she would run to store and immediately buy whatever she could afford on blackboard (see above).
• Price controls are attempted but they intentionally create loopholes otherwise everyone would starve. So the government passes a law that "Bread can only cost $100,000 ZWD" however they exempt "artisan bread" from the price controls. So when you go to the store there is no $100,000 ZWD bread available....however there is the same loaf with a single raisin in bottom of bag that has now been termed "raisin bread" to fit the legal exemption for price controls.

As an aside. My friend is the one who introduced me to Rhodesian Ridgebacks (mine is sitting next me right now). They are great family pets if anyone is looking for medium-large dog that is good with families.

I don't know much about Zimbabwe, but I do know that in 2008 a loaf of bread cost 10 million Zimbabwean dollars. That's insane! Can you imagine why?

In Zimbabwe, bread costs Z$10 million
With inflation at 100,000 percent, few can afford even basic goods.

https://m.stacker.news/33214 https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2008/0325/p06s02-woaf.html

Well, Zimbabwe was once been a very highly ranked Cricket team. Exactly when Flower brothers used to play for them. 😜 I'm obsessed with cricket now and the cricket fever is boiling very hot inside.

Jokes apart, I know zimbawe to be a beautiful nation with happy people. I will take your suggestions and go deeper with works, memoirs about Zimbabwe.

Some great books in there. ‘When a Crocodile Eats the Sun’ was a recommendation from a fellow Stacker.

Had Freddie New (Bitcoin Policy UK) written a book about his experience in Zimbabwe?

Rhodesia is named after Cecil Rhodes like the Rhodes Scholarship

Why during the summer, specifically?

Awesome list, I also have enjoyed a lot of these stories, but there's a few I haven't seen yet, thanks.

Have you seen Hard-Boiled Egg Index: Surviving Zimbabwe’s Hyperinflation

I also love reading memoirs. Thanks for the suggestions!

Awesome. I like to read about the adventures of Truman also