Zimbabweu00a0has tried to combat the world's highest inflation by widening the use of foreign currency u2014 the first act of a coalition government that gave the longtime opposition control of much economic policy.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti, a veteran opposition leader, told reporters that some 130,000 soldiers, teachers, civil servants and other government workers will now receive payment in US dollars instead of local currency. The $100 monthly salary will be a raise for most government employees, who had seen their buying power drop to the equivalent of $30 a month because of inflation.