by Grace Chekai
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has directed Money Transfer Agencies (MTAs) to continue providing services to the public during the 21-day lockdown period.
This follows President Emmerson Mnangagwa`s directive yesterday to the central bank to immediately address concerns from users of MTAs.
In a statement, yesterday, the RBZ Governor John Mangudya said, “Further to His Excellency the President`s Directive of 6 April 2020 on the need to provide critical services to the recipients of diaspora remittances, the bank wishes to advise the public that the following additional services will be provided by Money Transfer Agencies (MTAS) during the Lockdown Period ;
“MTAs with branches operating in retail outlets shall, with effect from Wednesday the 8th of April 2020, operate daily within the timelines prescribed for opening of retail outlets or shops, and MTAs owned by banks and retail outlets or shops, shall open between 0900 and 1500 hours. To allow for operational adjustment, this directive takes effect from Wednesday the 8th of April 2020,” said Governor Mangudya.
Governor Mangudya said that in order to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, MTAs shall be required to spread remittance pay out access points and to strictly observe the social distancing guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the World Health Organisation.
President Mnangagwa had directed the RBZ to address constraints around essential financial services indicating that the new environment arising from the National lockdown has resulted in increased people`s dependency on remittances.
“The new environment arising from the National Lockdown has increased our people`s dependence on remittances, which also have the added advantage of reaching directly the most marginalised members of our Nation,” said President Mnangagwa.
