CHAPTER ONEINTRODUCTIONThis thesis analyzes the nature of Zimbabwe's crisis from independence in 1980 to 2009 when dollarisation took place in the country. This study evaluates the numerous reasons for the collapse of the country's economy. In its first decade, the newly independent country of Zimbabwe was heavily financed by aid from international donors. In that first decade of independence, international donors played an important role in determining the course of development, financing a variety of development projects in sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure and agriculture. In the second decade of independence, these donor agencies were responsible for enforcing the implementation of the structural adjustment program. The purpose of the economic restructuring was intended solely to recover the money lent to Zimbabwe by these international financial institutions after independence. In fact, some of the money owed by the country dated back to the days before independence. This restructuring was the beginning of the economic collapse in Zimbabwe, later known as the Zimbabwe Crisis. The Zimbabwe crisis was not caused by a single event, but rather by a series of events that left the country on the brink of disaster. Zimbabwe was expected to suffer from hyperinflation, the highest in the world between 2007 and 2008, a failed economy in which productive agriculture and mining sectors were shrinking and local people found themselves with less money to spend. Although this crisis was mainly caused by economic structuring, other factors such as economic policies introduced by President Mugabe, economic mismanagement and political problems with opposition parties contributed to m...... middle of paper .... ...a group including commanders of the army, air force, police, prison services and the infamous Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) have continued to take advantage of the chaotic situation in Zimbabwe. In early 2009 main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai agreed to join a unity government, but it remains to be seen what tangible impact this will have on an economy that has been in crisis for more than a decade. There are still issues that need to be urgently addressed, including the need for real economic and democratic transformation and, above all, to eradicate the corruption and economic mismanagement that have become endemic in the country. For example, economic mismanagement, particularly meddling by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, fueled the collapse of the local currency, which had become virtually worthless by the end of 2018. 2008.