NOT SURPRISING THAT THE GOVERNOR OF THE RESERVE BANK OF ZIMBABWE PLEADS FOR HELP

*NOT SURPRISING THAT THE GOVERNOR OF THE RESERVE BANK OF ZIMBABWE PLEADS FOR HELP.*

The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe - RBZ, John Mushayavanhu, is urging every Zimbabwean to support the newly introduced currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), to make it work. This is after the ZiG has already lost a considerable value in just the three weeks it has been in use, albeit only in electronic form.

The question is, why has the governor suddenly turned his back on their international advisors, the World Bank? If the proposed policy has failed, why won't they call their consultants back and tell them, rather than throw them under the bus?

A lot of mistrust, internal discord and disillusionment has unfortunately become the order of the day. As much as we want Zimbabwe's economy to function, such monetary policy blunders don't come cheap.

At least they have realised that fighting money changers in the streets is not the solution to the lack of confidence in the ZiG. Rather, the governor needs to find ways of convincing consumers, businesses, local and foreign investors to use the ZiG in domestic transactions. He also needs to engage those in the diaspora in the same vein. 

These governors must go back in time and study what made the original Zimbabwean dollar work as the sole currency from 1980 to 2000 and must study the outstanding policies of other governors like James Kombo Moyana and Dr Leonard Tsuma. Instead of trusting these disruptive policies being reshuffled and recycled repeatedly post 2002.

Revival of the local industry as a start would allow the country to start producing, rather than surviving on imports only. Businesses will obviously shun the local currency and opt for forex so that they can import basic products.

The Central Bank also needs independence from ZANU PF. I strongly believe these governors are very well-educated and wise enough to know about what needs to be done to fix the currency and monetary policy issues. Rather, they are being constrained by the selfish ambitions of greedy politicians. I feel sorry for Governor John Mushayavanhu because he is in a hot seat. He knows the truth but can't tell his boss.

#wearetired

#EnoughIsEnough

#weneednewleaders

#structuredfraud

#zanupfmustgo

*About the author*

_Tendai Christian Mapfumo is a UK based Zimbabwean human rights activist. He is in the South Branch of the UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe. He can be contacted by emailing christendai52@gmail.com