BULAWAYO public transport operators claim not to have seen the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) notes and coins, saying it is not true that they are rejecting the new currency.
Some commuters and residents in Bulawayo claimed that the kombi operators were rejecting ZiG currency as fare.
Government introduced the ZiG notes and coins on April 30, but there have been complaints from consumers over the scarcity of the notes and coins.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) says flooding the market with the ZiG may trigger inflation.
Bulawayo City Transit spokesperson Daniel Pondo said the ZiG was not on the market.
“I have never laid eyes on the ZiG,” Pondo said.
A Tshova Mubaiwa driver said: “We have never seen that money. We have never rejected it.”
Zimbabwe Passengers Association secretary-general Paul Makiwa said ZiG was only available electronically.
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“We barely see physical ZiG notes and coins,” he said.
“It appears (it’s) available only electronically. It is not possible for us transport operators to have swiping machines.”
Fuel and spare parts and other services such as passports are still priced in United States dollars.
“And this is the challenge that we may have if ZiG is available. We still have to buy fuel, spare parts to remain on the road, and we need forex for that,” Pondo said.
