Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
GWANDA residents have called on authorities to monitor service providers to ensure they accept the recently introduced Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) following concerns that some businesses were rejecting the currency.
Speaking recently during an awareness meeting in Gwanda, residents said while Government is urging citizens to embrace the new currency, some shops were not accepting it. Some shops are also charging exorbitant prices in ZiG apparently to discourage customers from using it.
Others are limiting the number of products, which customers can buy in ZiG while some shops are only selling certain particular products in local currency.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) in conjunction with the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services and other arms of the Government have embarked on a massive countrywide campaign to raise public awareness on the ZiG.
This follows the successful launch of the structured currency on April 5, which has been overwhelmingly embraced by key economic stakeholders. On Tuesday last week, depositors across the country started withdrawing cash from their bank accounts, paving the way for a full-scale circulation of the ZiG.
“It’s a noble thing that we have our own currency as a country, which we can build and develop, but it will be difficult to do so if some service providers are not accepting it. We are having a challenge with some shops not accepting the ZiG, especially the small businesses,” said Mr Philemon Nare.
Another resident, Ms Beatrice Khumalo said: “In Gwanda, we have only three big supermarkets, which accept ZiG. While these awareness campaigns are being conducted, we also urge authorities to deploy teams to these shops that are not accepting the ZiG.”
Ms Khumalo said there is a need for mechanisms to be put in place to ensure that everyone embraces the ZiG.
Mr Dumisani Nyathi urged residents to embrace the new currency, saying each citizen has a role to play in defending the ZiG.
Speaking during the awareness meeting, Gwanda Town Mayor, Councillor Thulani Moyo urged various stakeholders from the mining town to comply and embrace the ZiG.
Clr Moyo said there is a need for the RBZ to deploy officers to monitor service providers to ensure that businesses comply.
He said there is also a need for RBZ to decentralise to Gwanda Town, which is the provincial capital. — @DubeMatutu
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