THE barber knows everyone’s secrets.
This is not just a saying — it is a reflection of a reality shaped by culture and community.
For generations, hair salons and barbershops have been more than places for tending to hair; they are hubs of stories, gossip and life confessions.
The clippers and combs, however, are not the only tools of trade; barbers and hairstylists wield sharp ears, too, absorbing tales from everyone who takes a seat on their chair.
For T-One, though, a 20-something-year-old barber in Ruwa, barbering is not just about cutting hair and catching up on local news — it is also his gateway to a thriving side hustle: Cash lending.
This is because from his job, he charges between US$3 to US$5 per haircut for monthly earnings of between US$300 and US$500.
T-One rents a chair he uses in the hair salon from which he operates.
Swaying to the rhythm of local jams while expertly trimming a client’s hair, as is his norm, T-One’s listens for potential borrowers looking for lending services.
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During one hot afternoon, in the second half of August, a NewsDay reporter, pretending to be a desperate borrower, went to the salon where T-One works at a shopping centre in Ruwa. The paper got wind of T-One from some nearby residents.
Outside, one of the salon’s stylists sits lazing about.
“Can you call T-One,” the reporter asked.
“Let me go and call him,” the stylist responded, her voice carrying the urgency of someone with a pressing need, as she slips back into the salon.
Moments later, T-One emerges, striding towards the reporter. His demeanour radiates confidence, but there is a glint of caution in his eyes.
“What do you want?”
“I heard you give out loans. Is that true?” the reporter inquires.
“Yes, I do. You give me collateral worth double the amount you want and pay back with 35% interest after 30 days,” T-One replies, his tone as matter-of-fact as if he is quoting the price for a haircut.
And the borrower, the reporter, presses on, “What collateral do you accept?”
T-One eyes the reporter with mild annoyance. “What do you have, boss?”
“A tablet, but not a Samsung or Apple — just one of those cheap Chinese ones,” comes the response.
T-One snorts dismissively.
“Boss, I take valuable tablets, TVs, fridges, stoves — things that actually have worth. How much do you want?”
“US$160,” the reporter responds.
“What you are talking about? I will have to think about it,” T-One says annoyed at how small the amount will be.
The reporter, undeterred, continues. “How much is the maximum I can get?”
“Anything, but I only do up to US$1 000. For your offer, though, I would have to think about it,” T-One states, clearly unimpressed.
T-One strides back into the salon, his steps less lively, weighed down by the feeling of wasted time.
And for sure, efforts to reach T-One later that night on WhatsApp were fruitless.
Patience for Christopher, another moneylender, however, was not a problem.
Christopher operates his business strictly on a referral basis.
Thus, a week after the T-One encounter, the reporter reached out to several sources and contacts to have access to Christopher.
This led to interactions on WhatsApp.
Again, the reporter approached with the second rate tablet, as a desperate borrower seeking US$160.
“Let us see your tablet,” Christopher demanded.
The reporter sends Christopher the pictures of the tablet.
“Unfortunately, your collateral is low. Laptop or TV or anything valuable is the collateral I take. Items must be more valuable than the US$160,” Christopher noted.
“I think if you add those things then I can lend you US$160 and pay back US$210 within a month.”
That interest rate translates to 31,25%.
Christopher also lends up to US$1 000.
The commonality between T-One and Christopher is that they skirted over the issue of what will happen should a borrower fail to pay back.
Sure, the collateral will be sold, but one cannot help wondering if that is all.
Well for, Stanley (last name withheld), in his 50s, who although did not borrow from either T-One or Christopher, it was not easy.
Stanley was desperate for a loan to pay his rentals; at a house he lived in the high-density suburb of Glen View.
With no job and struggling to make ends meet, Stanley turned to a moneylender looking for US$500.
“I convinced them to lend me the money promising to pay but I failed and ended up getting beaten. They have come to my house to collect the money several times,” Stanley said, facing down the whole time.
When asked who “they” were, Stanley refused to answer.
“I can’t go to the police,” Stanley said.
Stanley has since approached his family for a bailout.
In both the first and second quarters of the year, acts against property were the second most common crime in Zimbabwe. These are basically criminal acts that involve taking property or money without threats or use of force against the victim. This covers burglary, theft, intellectual property offences, property damage and other acts against property only.
According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, of the 196 796 criminal cases recorded in the second quarter, acts against property only were 50 571 down from the 53 975 recorded in the first quarter.
A quick look at the 79 lenders listed on Zimbabwe’s largest advertising website, www.classified.co.zw, revealed that most are disbursing loans of up to US$10 000.
As collateral, they take cars, trucks, electronic gadgets, fridges or stoves and charge an interest rate of between 17% and 18% payable in 30 days.
The emergence of unregistered money lenders came as a result of the 2024 Monetary Policy Statement issued on April 5, this year.
In it, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) tightened money supply to “ensure reserve money growth is contained within the limits of growth in gold and foreign currency reserves.”
However, this led to a liquidity crisis leaving the banking public unable to readily secure loans for school fees, rentals, food, entrepreneurial activities, tertiary education and medical treatment.
These are the main reasons why consumers borrow money, according to the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ).
Officially, consumers use salaries to borrow smaller amounts of money from microfinanciers and banks.
“People have always been going to moneylenders, for school fees and even for food so there is nothing new,” CCZ chief executive Rose Mpofu said.
“We are always educating consumers to never go to unregistered microfinance institutions or moneylenders. We were some of the people who lobbied for the Microfinance Act, the Money Lending and Rates of Interest Act, which is under the purview of the RBZ.
“Why would anyone go to an unregistered practitioner? Honestly? If you go, you are endangering yourself and you will be beaten because there is a lot of unfairness. There are a lot of registered microfinance institutions and people should ask.”
She said consumers must first check with RBZ to find out which moneylenders were registered.
Bankers Association of Zimbabwe chief executive Fanwell Mutogo said while unregistered lenders such as loan sharks seemed convenient, they posed significant risks.
“Loan sharks typically charge extremely high interest rates, which can quickly escalate the debt burden on borrowers. These lenders operate outside the regulatory framework, offering little to no consumer protection. Loan sharks often employ unethical and aggressive methods to collect debts, which can lead to severe financial and emotional distress for borrowers,” he said.
“Engaging with unlicensed lenders can also expose borrowers to legal risk. In conclusion, while the allure of quick loans from loan sharks may be tempting, the long-term consequences can be devastating.
“It is imperative to seek out safe, regulated financial solutions and to work towards improving one’s financial standing to access the full range of services offered by reputable financial institutions.”
He said for those struggling to meet the requirements of traditional financial institutions, the public was urged to explore alternative solutions within the regulated financial sector.
“Many banks have microfinance institutions that offer tailored products designed to assist individuals with less-than perfect credit histories,” Mutogo said.
Zimbabwe Association of Microfinance Institutions executive director Godfrey Chitambo said there was no such thing as an easy loan.
“If you see something called an easy loan, this is a pyramid scheme, you know, I want to be very clear. There are two issues. There is a reckless borrower and there is a reckless lender.
“Unfortunately, journalists, you are included, but I don't know you, you tend to rush to the defence of the borrower, but it’s not for today. But, there is reckless lending and reckless borrowing. You know, how do you become desperate?
“When you know your child is doing Grade Seven, for example, and your child has a very good result from the first term and second term, then you spend money at Christmas with your son.
“And, in January, you now say, the headmaster wants this and that, then you become, quote, unquote, desperate. So, to be frank with you, the public must also play its role.”
He added: “So, before we go to the issue about the loan sharks and other things, I just want to say there is reckless borrowing. And, you know, if you are a reckless borrower, even if I was a registered MFI (microfinance institution), the premium on your interest rate would be higher than a good borrower, because I know you are not organised. So, there, get me right. But let us go to the loan sharks. Yeah. Loan sharks are illegal.”
He said consumers needed to live within their means.
Is unregistered lending illegal?
Well, yes and no.
In Zimbabwe, there are three Acts governing lending.
That is the Banking Act, Microfinance Act and the Money Lending and Rates of Interest Act.
It is not illegal for an unregistered moneylender to lend but there is a framework under the Money Lending and Rates of Interest Act that it is to be done.
“We have what we call occasional moneylenders. Its myself giving you money, as an example, and demanding you give me certain security that I charge you as a certain interest. And remember, in terms of the Money Lending and Rates of Interest Act, interest is per annum, not per day or month,” Advocate Method Ndlovu, a lawyer experienced in civil litigation, advisory services and commercial arbitration, said.
He said according to the Phillip Else vs Michael Johnson SC49 of 2017 Supreme Court judgment, it noted that section 8 of Money Lending and Rates of Interest Act states:
“No lender shall stipulate demand or receive from the borrower interest at a rate greater than the prescribed rate of interest.”
Ndlovu said the interest rate threshold was 5% on a monthly basis and no moneylender might go beyond that although there were exemptions according to the legislation for registered microfinance institutions.
“Those people whom we call occasional moneylenders are strictly not allowed by the law to pass or to exceed, so to say, the threshold of 5%,” he said.
“So, whatever transaction that they do, whatever money that they lend to each other and the percentages which they agree in terms of interest, must not be above 5%.
“So, it’s 5% or less in terms of legislation. Anything which is above 5% is now a contract which is happening outside the confines, in fact, the strict confines of the law and that deal or transaction becomes illegal at law.”
Currently, the RBZ annualised interest rate is 35% which translates to 2,92% monthly.
Thus, lending at up to 5% for unregistered moneylenders is legal while over that you are a loan shark.
RBZ had not responded to inquiries made by NewsDay by the time of going to print yesterday.
