adminKhuphuka Nasingeni
While it used to be normal to be in possession of cash, sometimes huge amounts of it, it is increasingly becoming quite an abnormality to be found in possession of huge amounts of cash. A�
In fact, we could blow the whistle on you.A� How times change!A� Only a few months ago, I dug in, vowing never to waver as regards my definition of money.A� The definition that I stuck to never encompassed all sorts of forms of money that I find myself now relying on like the mobile money, plastic money and instant money transfers via the phone from your bank account.
I have since refused to be left behind, to be stuck in the past.A� However, it is hard to keep track of your money at times.A� And I speak for many who are trying to adjust to the new dispensation. Have you ever tried to shop, convinced there is money in your account only to get a message that there are insufficient funds?
There I was this other day in a long supermarket queue in this progressive city and I could not help but eavesdrop on a conversation between two ladies, who happened to be civil servants.A� They were in the supermarket to buy groceries but their main goal was to get some cash to liquidate some of their debts.
a�?Do you realise that we are spending money on groceries every month in a bid to get some cash and in the process falling deeper into debt since we are left with very little in the account at the end of the day,a�? said one of them.
Since it has become quite challenging to access cash from banks, quite a number of shoppers are turning to supermarkets for a�?cashbacksa��, turning till operators into the most popular people in town!A� By the way I am accepting all till operator/bank teller friend requests on facebook without any prior vetting! We need lessons on keeping track of our finances since we were so used to pinching the notes between our fingers and carefully counting and estimating how long it would last and stashing it in different drawers according to use.
Banks have also been avoided due to the withdrawal charges.A� However, me and Mzo are planning a party this weekend that we have dubbed a�?Bank Slash Basha�� on account of the slashing of bank charges by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.A� Our central bank is finally making a mark, first the bond notes and now the slashing of bank charges!
Our club, called i-round, will be sharing our proceeds at the weekend and there shall be serious partying.A� We could have ended the year the way we started it but we could not get some of our cash from our account.A� The quick minds oMzo warned us of the likelihood of cash crunch and we moved our account to Mattress Banking Corporation(MBC) where we were safe from charges and queues, only that some of the members were now in the habit of wearing expensive suits and we fear for our money. Talking of which some friendships have suffered irreparable damage after the treasurer of the grocery club did a dabulap with the groupa��s funds.A� While some were sharing groceries, at some clubs it was take this, take that as the members traded blows!
There were also cross-border money making clubs disguised as churches. One such leader, from Uganda but that claimed multiple nationalities will be spending his Christmas in a Ugandan jail after his Holy Fire escapades in Zimbabwe and recent deportation to the country where he had escaped from a prison some years ago!A� I hope they had shared the money when the fugitive a�?propheta�� fell foul of the law. And to think that some are getting away with a�?holya�� sewage in Harare!
Still on the contamination tip, the jury is still out on who spiked Yaya Tourea��s drink, messing with his faith and the law that found him guilty of driving under the influence.A� Guys, we know ita��s December but please no tampering with our drinks, please!
Online Reporter