For some 10m Zimbabweans, Christmas 2007 will be the worst in memory. As if coping with inflation, ­estimated at more than 40,000 per cent, and shortages of food, fuel, electricity and water were not enough, they cannot draw their money from bank accounts because of a cash shortage engineered by the authorities.

For the past fortnight people have had to queue for hours – even days – at teller machines and banks to try to draw out their cash, amid repeated promises from Gideon Gono, central bank governor, the crisis would be resolved by Christmas.