A talmudic perspective of the Zimbabwean banking crisis of 2004/2005

Abstract

This article reviews the Zimbabwean banking crisis of 2004/2005 from a Talmudic perspective using seven Talmudic halachic principles: honest weights and measures, transparency and accountability, deception, fraud and theft, conflict of interest, bribery, outright and subtle, misleading others, and honesty in business. Each principle is used to review the activities and behaviours that nearly collapsed the entire Zimbabwean banking sector in 2004/2005. It was found that almost all the principles were violated prior to the banking crisis. In conclusion, had all the parties involved acted in the spirit of the Talmudic rabbis, the Zimbabwean banking crisis would not have occurred. This article has therefore business and academic value.