By Shongedzai Mugwagwa
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) have promised to descend on cartels that have flooded the black market with newly injected $2 notes before banks have even dispensed them.
ZACC reacted to a furore on social media platforms where members of the public expressed anger over the currency leakages into the black market. In response to a tweet from a disgruntled citizen, they tweeted, “This will be investigated right away. Thank you for the tip @bmusonza.”
Responding to matter, the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services said that, “Government through the @ReserveBankZIM, is investigating allegations of abuse of newly released bank notes. Cash was collected by banks using their CIT vehicles on Monday. All serial numbers were recorded in the register. The offending banks will be named and severe action taken.”
A picture has gone viral on social media of a stack newly minted $2 notes already on the black market yet in banks; they are dispensing $2 coins. This sparked fury even from those who have been supporting the reintroduction of the Zimbabwean currency.
Commenting on the picture, one Brighton Musonza tweeted on his timeline that, “If you don’t deal with this early, then we’re doomed. Some of us have invested so much effort in this. There’re serial numbers on these bundles and so it’s easy to investigate the source. It’s not much but it’s a culture that needs stopping @edmnangagwa, @MthuliNcube, @Gguvamatanga.”
Never Maswerasei weighed in, “Dear Zimbabwe: If I was in Zimbabwe, I would mobilize and lead a records-shuttering demonstration to @ReserveBankZIM. The sabotage and pillaging of the economy by RBZ and commercial banks is now a matter of national emergency.”
Zanu PF members were also irked by the development. To that end, Zanu PF official Twitter account tweeted, “No no no. This is not on. This is criminal and treasonous as this sabotages the presidency of @edmnangagwa. Which bank was issued with these notes? The serial numbers are very clear. How do we attain vision 2030?@ZACConline @PoliceZimbabwe @ReserveBankZIM.”
LEAD leader, Linda Masarira also expressed her disquiet over the development that she directed her message to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube. She tweeted, “Dear @MthuliNcube. I am humbly requesting for an explanation on how the new notes have found themselves in cars which operate as black market banks. As long as hard cash is not available in banks yet available on the black market, there is no hope of normalizing the economy.”
