Economic rescue package for Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's neighbours are preparing an economic rescue package for the impoverished country which would include replacing its worthless currency with the more powerful rand, reports said today.

The effort comes from the 14-nation Southern African Development Community to stabilise the exchange rate of the Zimbabwe dollar and curb inflation, now estimated at a world record 5000 per cent, The Sunday Independent newspaper reported.

Zimbabwe remains in the throes of a rampant economic crisis, with critical food shortages and massive unemployment.