Mick Hartley

Is this man laughing because he’s wealthy, beyond the dreams of avarice? No, he’s laughing because it’s joke money.

Zimbabwe’s central bank is to introduce new higher-denomination banknotes in an effort to ease the critical shortage of cash in the country.

Zimbabwe has been in economic decline for the past eight years, with annual inflation widely thought to be in excess of 50,000%.

The highest value note that will go into circulation on Friday is worth 10m Zimbabwean dollars.

But that is worth less than US$3.90 (£2; 2.60 euros) on the black market…

There have been long queues every day at banks as people have struggled to withdraw cash.

The government’s only response is to print more money – and that is seen as the main reason for the hyperinflation.