How did Zimbabwe get its supply of US dollars?

I have often wondered where the float currency came from when Zimbabwe dollarized. One day there was nothing and all of a sudden the money was full and in circulation. read more

At any given time, there were enough USD in circulation in the parallel market to cover a significant portion of the ZW$ in circulation, and when there wasn't enough USD, exchange rates would rise to compensate. read more

Zimbabwe dollars will be decommissioned at a rate of 35 quadrillion per US dollar (that’s Z$35,000,000,000,000,000 for US$1). Any remaining Zimbabwe dollars in circulation after September 30 2015 will be officially, as opposed to practically, worthless. read more

The Zimbabwean dollar was introduced in 1980 to directly replace the Rhodesian dollar at par (1:1), at a similar value to the US dollar. Over time, hyperinflation in Zimbabwe reduced the Zimbabwe dollar to one of the lowest valued currency units in the world. read more

Zimbabwe has used the U.S. dollar since 2009 to substitute its own failed money, the Zimbabwe dollar. It also uses the South African rand, the euro, and the Chinese yuan, alongside the dollar. However, because Zimbabwe has run a trade deficit for several years, importing more than it exports, the country is literally running out of paper money. read more