Tendai Matunhu

Zimbabwe will soon have a new currency. This was revealed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa today when he addressed the people who participated in a cleanup held at Candy Shopping Centre in Southlea Park in Harare South.

 The President highlighted that Government was working on introducing the Zimbabwe’s own currency and warned against violence and wanton price hikes as the law would catch up with wrong doers.

Speaking to the participants, President Mnangagwa highlighted that Zimbabwe would not develop without her own currency.

“The country cannot develop when using currencies of other countries. As a nation, we should have our own currency. As a Government we have initiated the process that will result in the introduction of our own currency. That way we will be able to curb the fluctuating foreign exchange rates. The current economic challenges will pass because Government has adopted policies to address the situation. Expect things to normalise by year end,” he said.

President Mnangagwa slammed businesses which are wantonly hiking prices and warned those bent on causing violence that law enforcement agents were prepared to deal with them. He said that Zimbabwe was open for business not for abuse.

The President called for peace to prevail in the country and for Zimbabweans to be united. He urged people to desist from violence and hooliganism as Government will not tolerate the vices.

“Development only comes through peace and unity. As Zimbabweans, we're one and should be united. We must leave a heritage of peace, we must not live a heritage of violence. No, No, No! Government is ready to thwart any threats to peace.

“We want peace in Zimbabwe. We want to bequeath the next generation with a legacy of peace and not anarchy and chaos. Zimbabwe allows peaceful demonstrations but if there are warmongers bent on causing wanton destruction, we are ready for them,” he said.

On another note, President Mnangagwa highlighted that he was proud of the commitment by residents to keep the environment clean. He took note of the lack of tarred roads, lack of refuse collection facilities, water systems and functional sewer systems in Southlea Park and instructed Government departments in collaboration with the City of Harare to develop the area by tarring roads and constructing sewer systems.

President Mnangagwa was accompanied by Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality, Prisca Mupfumira, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, Deputy Chief Secretary responsible for Presidential Communications, Mr George Charamba and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Mr Nick Mangwana.

Meanwhile, the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa was at Murehwa Centre for the clean-up campaign.