The central bank in Zimbabwe has launched a new, devalued currency to combat a cash shortage.

Zimbabweans awoke to a new currency Friday.An attempt by the Central Bank to ease a crippling lack of cash in the country.

It’s led to more confusion and fear for residents, who faced years of economic problems under old President Robert Mugabe. “In 2008, we had a crisis. So many people lost their monies and today again we have a similar case, whereby things have just been said, without any clarity, on what is going to be the way forward.”

Zimbabwe adopted the dollar in 2009 but faced a currency shortage. So a parallel system was introduced. Bond notes not actual money pegged one-to-one to the dollar.

This new currency the RTGS combines those bonds and the electronic dollars people had been unable to use from their accounts due to the cash shortage. But now the rate is 2.5 to 1 dollar. A 60 percent devaulation.