Coins worth $10 million dollars were introduced into the financial system in denominations of one cent, five cents, 15 cents and 25 cents, while a 50 cent coin is set for March. But most service providers like public transport operators reject the coins, blaming retailers like fuel points and vehicle spare operators for also refusing to accept them.
Even government departments like hospitals, schools and customs officials are refusing the coins, saying they are of no value. This has forced some people to lobby for the use of the coins, which are recognised as legal tender at public institutions like roadblocks, tollgates and clinics.
“These bond coins bring back a lot of bad memories. I don’t know why RBZ thought they would work even without doing any proper research. I am reminded of the (Gideon) Gono era when we got all sorts of money yet it didn’t work,” said Memory Sakupwanya, a vegetable vendor in Southerton.
“I have never used the coins and I laugh at people who come here trying to buy my things with them. Where will I put the bond coins? No-one except OK and Spar want them,” she said.
Samson Muyengwa, 25, a street shoe seller said he had nowhere to take the coins, so he always insisted on getting South African rands or pula coins as change – or even chewing gum.
“It’s a good thing that most of the people are not accepting the bond coins. If we did, we might end up with the Zimdollar back,” he said.
“The bond coins remind of the days when we would sleep in queues at the bank waiting for money that would only be enough to take you back home. RBZ must stop playing tricks with us. We don’t want the Zimdollar back because the US dollar is just fine,” said Johannes Murombedzi, 50, an assistant at a motor spares shop in the Kopje area.
Commuter bus operators said they would rather force passengers to disembark before reaching their destinations as even the police refused to accept the coins.
Post published in: Business