I think you mean that using USD and ZAR enabled people to start buying products again. They still have and had major inflation; but instead just had a means to

I think you mean that using USD and ZAR enabled people to start buying products again. They still have and had major inflation; but instead just had a means to buy things again. Exactly quantifying inflation there is a problem due to government intervention, but the fuel price is at about R 50 per litre (ZAR 15 = USD 1); biscuits that cost R 12 in South Africa is something like R 60 there and the way I understand it it doesn't matter whether you pay in USD or ZAR you'll still see the effect of inflation it the actual relative cost of products. Again, a lot of this is artificial due to taxes, shortages, government, etc. The comment about telecommunications is on point though, all of the Zimbabweans I know are critically dependent on phones and especially cheap smartphones. Somehow, by getting the cheapest data options (in South Africa data is relatively expensive for no particular technological reason other than the companies ripping you off), they use whatsapp to get jobs, talk to their family, arrange money transfers, etc. Zimbabwe's story is a very sad one, especially when taking into account the potential that the country once had and the ingenuity and willingness to work hard of its peoples.