Zimbabwe's inflation rate has surged to 231 million per cent as the Opposition appealed to South Africa's former president, Thabo Mbeki, to rescue the power-sharing deal he brokered last month with the President, Robert Mugabe.

The World Food Programme this week launched an appeal to feed 5 million Zimbabweans. It said more than 80 per cent of the population was surviving on less than $2.50 a day. Independent economists say that inflation this month will run into the trillions. That has forced the Government to allow shops to accept US dollars and the South African rand, because Zimbabwe's dollar is all but worthless.

The inflation figures will increase pressure on Mr Mugabe to stop stalling on the power-sharing Government with the prime minister-to-be, Morgan Tsvangirai. The President has insisted on control of all key cabinet posts.