Prof Ncube, who met with Dubai and Indian investors in
Harare yesterday, said in an interview that there was no need for Zimbabweans
to call for dollarisation.
He said the country needs both currencies to ensure a
smooth transition.
“In terms of the use of the US dollar and the Zimbabwe
dollar, we often hear people say why don’t you just dollarise?
“We have already done that because as I speak, you and I do
use US dollars in the shops, but we also use Zimbabwe dollars. We are using
both currencies already so there is no problem.”
He said the Government has allowed the use of both
currencies as this is necessary.
“When you are going through a transition one day we will
get to a point where we will only use the Zimbabwe dollar or a mono currency,
but we are not there yet.”
He added that because of sanctions and the inability to
service some loans, Zimbabwe was under strain in terms of access to credit
lines from abroad.
Resultantly, he noted, the country has debt arrears and
that impacts the capacity of both the Government and the private sector.
“We have no choice but to keep the two currencies,” he
added.
Minister Ncube said Government is determined to ensure a
stable economic environment.
“Coming to some of the domestic issues in terms of currency
reform agenda, we did that measure in terms of a temporary halting of lending
to burst the bubble that had emerged on the foreign currency front.
“This is in terms of the parallel market bubble as well as
on the equity front and the stock market,” he explained.
He said some market players were engaging in speculative
activity, which was being drawn from cheap loans and preferential loans from
some banks.
Prof Ncube further said he was impressed by the speed at
which the Dubai and Indian investors are starting their businesses in the
country.
“In the mining sector, the investors told me how they are
pushing in terms of getting their projects going in platinum as well as gold.
“In the health sector, they are keen on bringing key drugs
and vaccines into Zimbabwe and virtually establish facilities for making those
locally.”
“I was also able to get a report on the agriculture sector
where the investors want to extend and support our Pfumvudza programme, turning
our small-scale farmers into even more productive farms using technology. They
will also partly finance the Pfumvudza programme working jointly with the
Government,” he said.
The investors, Prof Ncube added, are also set to build a
cyber-city near the new Parliament building in Mt Hampden, which will attract “the
crème de la crème in the world in terms of ICT and entrepreneurship”.
“We are going to have a ground breaking ceremony early next
week with His Excellency,” he said.
“It is clear that Zimbabwe is open for business and these
individuals have a vision.”
A factory to recycle used oil is also on the cards, with a
building already having been identified to start the project, revealed Prof
Ncube. Sunday Mail
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