Poverty is on the rise in Zimbabwe and poor governance is the root cause - an analysis which emerged in a briefing on Capitol Hill this week by the CATO Institute, a libertarian think tank.

Zimbabwean market-based analyst Rejoice Ngwenya said hyperinflation, now estimated by some to be running at 10 million percent, is driving most Zimbabweans beneath the poverty line.

CATO Africa Analyst Marian Tupy dismissed the Zimbabwean government’s contention that Western sanctions have brought about the economic collapse.

Following the Hill briefing, Ngwenya and Tupy joined reporter Carole Gombakomba of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe to continue the discussion, explaining that the solution to the crisis lies with Zimbabweans as there is only so much the international community can do.