Public transport operators and traders must accept $20 notes as they are legal tender and failure to accept legal tender in transactions is outside the law, the Finance Ministry warned this week.
Some public transport operators and informal traders in the
capital are no longer accepting the $20 notes as legal tender, months after they
also rejected $10 and $5 notes, effectively taking them out of circulation.
The rebuff has left travellers stranded as many kombi
operators and tuckshop owners are not accepting the $20 notes, only $50 and
$100 notes.
Supermarkets and other big furniture shops are accepting
all local notes in circulation including $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes.
However, Government yesterday said the rejection of local
bank notes was illegal and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe would inquire into the
matter.
“The rejection of bond notes is illegal and we will do an
inquiry with the RBZ. The $20 notes are legal tender and no one has reason to
refuse the currency,” said chief director of communications and advocacy in the
Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Mr Clive Mphambela.
Transport associations also blasted operators who are
rejecting notes, saying urgent action will be taken against those refusing to
accept the bond notes.
Zimbabwe Passenger Transporters Organisation chairman Dr
Sam Nanhanga said it was an offence for public transporters to refuse bond
notes.
“As long as it is legal tender we accept it. We also accept
all forms of payment be it in local currency or foreign currency,” he said.
Mr Ngoni Katsvairo, the Greater Harare Association of
Commuter Omnibus Operators secretary-general echoed the same sentiments, saying
action would be taken against those who were not accepting local currency.
“As an association, we have not ordered any operator to
reject bond notes. If the operators are rejecting local currency, the
passengers must get the code inscribed at the back of the kombi and urgent
action will be taken against the driver and the conductor and eventually the
owner of the vehicle,” he said.
Zimbabwe Union of Drivers and Conductors president Mr Frederick
Maguramhinga concurred with his counterparts and said: “To be honest, we do not
allow what is not allowed by the Government, that is to reject the legal tender
of this country.”
“This is our policy and we are we do not allow any driver
or conductor to refuse the bond notes. We are accepting every form of payment
and we are not selecting the types of notes to be paid.
“If the passengers see any of our members refuse to collect
the $20 notes, they should call us and proper action will be taken against the
driver or the operator of the kombi,” Mr Maguramhinga said.
Passengers have also raised an outcry over the rejection of
the $20 notes saying it has greatly affected their transport from their homes
to the city centre and back.
They have urged Government to act against informal
businesses that were rejecting $20 notes, a situation that is now adding
pressure on the cash crisis.
Miss Nyaradzo Chibukwa from Warren Park said Government
should intervene and resolve the situation as bond notes were legal tender.
“What the conductors are doing is not fair because we would
have received the money from the bank in $20 notes so they have no right to
refuse the money. They are saying the money is not accepted in the tuckshops in
the downtown of the city centre so they cannot accept the money. Police should
arrest them because it is legal tender and no one should refuse it,” she said.
Mr Bornwise Jacha from Tynwald had no kind words for the public
transport operators and calls for the banning of kombis on the road.
“I think Government has made a good move when they banned
kombis during the lockdown period. These people are not human because how can a
driver or a conductor refuse to accept $20 notes? Where do they think we can
get the money from? This is totally absurd,” Mr Jacha said. Herald
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