USD Not Our Currency, We Have No Control - Ziyambi
The government says it cannot force service providers to accept soiled USD notes that are either worn out or tattered as it cannot print new notes to replace those that are being rejected.
This comes as Zimbabweans are being forced to buy new United States dollar notes on the streets and other private money agencies as old worn-out notes are being rejected on the market.
The issue was raised in Parliament on Wednesday during the question and answer session.
Mt Darwin South MP, Steven Kabozo (ZANU PF), requested to know government policy regarding the worn-out US dollar notes which were in circulation. He said:
I have noted with concern that even at our toll gates they are no longer accepting even slightly torn notes which is worrisome, taking into consideration that we do not print US dollar notes here in Zimbabwe.
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What is the government policy measure in place to get rid of this activity?
In response, the Leader of government business in Parliament and Justice Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, said the US government, through their embassy, issued a statement on the usage of worn-out USD notes.
Kaboko then asked Ziyambi to explain how the government was dealing with the issue of agencies buying the worn-out USD notes at a rate half of the amount of the note on offer.
In response, Ziyambi said Zimbabwe has no control over the issuance of USD notes. He said:
This is not our currency. It is a US-American government currency. We do not have any control whatsoever over it and we do not even control what happens beyond our borders.
So I am not the right person to issue a policy over a currency that does not belong to the Zimbabwean government.
The US dollar became legal tender in Zimbabwe in 2009 after the value of the local currency was wiped out by hyperinflation.
While the government has allowed the use of foreign currencies alongside the Zimbabwe dollar, the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority (ZINARA), a government entity, has reportedly been refusing to accept local currency. | NewZimbabwe.com
