Zimbabwe ATM spits out old dollar bills

Harare, 27 Apr – (ANA) - An ATM in Zimbabwe's capital Harare has been issuing the old national currency, sparking rumours that the defunct bills are back in circulation.

For the last two years, Zimbabwe has used US dollars and South African rand after its world record inflation rates rendered its dollars worthless.

Correspondents say a woman approached an Interfin Bank ATM in central Harare to withdraw $110 (£67). To the woman’s horror, the machine spat out wads of old worthless Zimbabwean dollar notes.

Bank branch manager Daniel Mandizvidza said that technicians had been testing the machine using old dollar notes and had left them inside by mistake.

He said the customer's account had not been debited, but she had made "unnecessary noise" about the affair. (ANA)

FA/ANA/27 April 2011----------