Venus Charumbira
Zim GBC News
www.zimgbcnews.co.zw
BULAWAYO – In a bid to bolster confidence in the national currency, community leaders and banking officials gathered in Bulawayo to launch a comprehensive public awareness campaign for the upgraded Zig bank notes.
The initiative is designed to educate the public on the features of the new currency and encourage its widespread use across the country.
Speaking at the launch event, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honorable Judith Ncube, underscored the necessity of the campaign.
She stated that it is a critical step to ensure the province is fully prepared for the upcoming monetary transition. Hon Ncube emphasized that familiarity with the new notes is key to safeguarding citizens’ finances.
“This campaign will help deepen financial literacy and build trust in our currency. It will ensure that our people are knowledgeable so that they are not cheated out of their incomes and savings,” she noted.
Dr. Morris B. Mpofu, Executive Assistant to the Governor of the Reserve Bank, addressed the gathering and urged citizens to embrace their national currency.
He highlighted that the current economic environment is now favorable for a shift towards using local money, pointing to recent economic indicators.
“Inflation has been low and stable. Right now, Zimbabwe is almost the only country left in Africa that does not take pride in its own money. We need to develop this country using our own currency and to do that, we must maintain our low inflation,” he said.
Reserve Bank Governor Dr. John Mushayavanhu provided detailed specifications of the new notes and coins, which are set to enter circulation on the 7th of April.
The new series will include denominations of 10 Zig, 20 Zig, and 50 Zig. In a significant departure from previous issues, the new notes are being printed on cotton-based paper, making them far more durable than their paper predecessors.
“We are bringing back the coins to solve the problem of change in taxis and shops. We will make sure these notes are available in every branch, every ATM, and every bank,” Dr. Mushayavanhu assured the public.
He further explained that the currency is backed by government support to ensure its intrinsic value and noted its practical utility, confirming that Zig can already be used to purchase fuel at select service stations. A key policy to drive demand for the currency was also announced.
“The government has also ruled that 50% of taxes must be paid in Zig. This means that even businesses that sell goods for US dollars will eventually need to find Zig to pay their taxes,” he explained.
With the new notes set to hit the streets on 7 April 2026, the message from officials was unambiguous: it is time for Zimbabweans to take pride in their own currency once again.
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