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that many felt was a deliberate move by businesspeople to rip them off.
Banks bought coins from South Africa for local circulation to ease change shortages but retailers have turned them down.
On Monday, the banks said they would soon return the R8 million worth of coins after sitting on them for about half-a-year. A shortage of rand and US coins in Harare means people often spend more than they intend to in shops so that their bills can become round figures.
Shops have also been giving out credit notes indicating how much change customers are owed, but these are redeemable in the specific branches where they are given. Some were being forced to take sweets or boxes of matches due to the shortage of coins.
Ms Caster Chiremba of Highfield fumed: “Retailers have no customers at heart. They just want every cent we have. They want to make sure they get everything from our pocket through buying unwanted items like matches.”
Mr Tinashe Moyo said retailers were profiteering at consumers’ expense.
“Retailers could have got coins from banks chose not to. Instead they want super-profits by milking us. When we give them cash, we want our change in cash.”
Another consumer said Government should safeguard consumers against such conditions.
“Government should pass a law on this matter. People should get change when they buy items. They should force shops to buy coins from banks.”
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe executive director Ms Rosemary Siyachitema said Finance Minister Tendai Biti had failed in regards to coins.
“Minister Biti in his budget last year said the coin issue was going to be a thing of the past but now we are almost at the end of the first quarter of the year with no action.
“That is not a good thing and someone who is responsible for the policies should walk the talk.”
Retailers say they are not comfortable with the rand coin-US dollar note exchange rates offered by banks.
Online Reporter