Adding to the optimism Monday was the increase in the individual cash withdrawal limit from Z$1000 to Z$20 000 sanctioned by the Central Bank. But just as there was chaos Monday with police battling to control rowdy crowds, Tuesday was no different.
Our Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa said what made it worse was that unlike Monday when banks closed later around 10pm, on Tuesday most building societies closed around 3pm while the commercial banks closed around 5pm.
Several banks did not even have the cash to dispense until deliveries from the Reserve Bank reached them around 1pm. Black market traders also reported that the Zimbabwe dollar crumbled against major currencies this week, triggering an increase in the price of imported items.
As if this was not enough prices of basic goods and services in general sky-rocketed to almost double their previous levels. Commuters paying between Z$400 and Z$500 for various journeys will now have to fork out anywhere between Z$700 and Z$1000 in fares. Prices of food stuffs like sugar, cooking oil, bread and others also went up. Those celebrating the increased cash withdrawal limit faced the reality of now needing more money to meet their daily requirements.
Muchemwa reported that most parents are failing to pay school fees because of the economic problems. Thousands of children have been asked to go home and only return upon the payment of fees. Worsening their plight are demands by several schools that a late payment fee be charged to children whose parents have failed to pay. In most cases this amount is simply the same as the fee itself, meaning parents are paying double in school fees if they run into financial difficulty.
Meanwhile members of the business community have said the maximum cash withdrawal limit of Z$10 000 for companies set by the central bank is far from adequate. A businessman who refused to be named said it did not make sense for individuals to have a higher withdrawal limit of Z$20 000 while companies were restricted to Z$10 000 when they clearly had more commitments to meet.
Tired of the cash queues 4 Zimbabweans Roger Chagwededza, Tinashe Gotora, Jackson Mabota and Precious Mwateyeni have filed a lawsuit against the central bank and want cash withdrawal limits to be declared unlawful. Human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama, is representing the petitioners.
 SWRadio Africa