Illegal money changers in Gweru and Kwekwe are hoarding
scarce products from wholesalers and reselling them on the black market in US
dollars.
Government has of late intensified its campaign against
illegal money changers who were destabilising the economy.
Dozens of illegal money changers in Gweru and Kwekwe were
arrested under the operation and some of them have since appeared in court.
A snap survey by The Herald yesterday established that
illegal money changers who used to frequent and occupy various spots on the
streets have since deserted the streets, but were still mopping up scarce US
dollar through selling some products which are in short supply.
“We don’t have to carry huge sums of bond notes which made
us easy targets,” said one of the illegal money changers who spoke on condition
of anonymity. “We just go to wholesalers and buy fast moving products,
especially those products which are in short supply and then sell them in US
dollars.”
Another money changer said some of the fast moving products
that were selling on the black market in large quantities include cement and
other food stuffs and fizzy drinks. Mr Lameck Moyo, a supervisor at Metro Peach
wholesalers group, said they were now demanding shop licences when selling some
of the scarce products to avoid hoarding.
“There are people who have been coming to buy certain
products in the shop obviously for some speculative reasons,” he said. “These
days we have been limiting the quantities so as to allow every customer a
chance to buy. We also demand that our clients, especially the new ones,
produce shop licences.” Herald
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