Zimbabwe says the new currency called ZiG will help tackle inflation. Photo: Zimbabwean information ministry/X

Zimbabwe's central bank has launched a new "structured currency" backed by gold on Friday.

This comes as it seeks to tackle sky-high inflation and stabilise the country's long-floundering economy.

"With effect from today… banks shall convert the current Zimbabwe dollar balances into the new currency, which shall be called the 'Zimbabwe Gold' (ZiG),'' Reserve Bank governor John Mushayavanhu said as he presented a monetary policy statement.

The move is expected to ''foster simplicity, certainty, predictability in our financial affairs," he said.

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AFP