HARARE - The cash shortages persisted yesterday with no sign of the new family of bearer cheques at most banks in the capital.

Queues, as has been the norm, started forming as early as 5 am with Zimbabweans hoping that they would finally get hold of their cash stuck in banks for the past six weeks.

 

 

The despondent depositors could be seen milling around banks hoping Dr Gono’s promise of accessing their cash would come true.

 

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) boss on Wednesday night promised Zimbabweans that they would get their money and in addition the new withdrawal limit for individuals would be increased to Z$50 000 000. 

“We came here around 5 am and now it’s after 2 pm and there is no sign of the new notes. I’m hungry because the money I had was the bus fare I used to get into town.

 

If I don’t get my cash I’ll have to borrow $800 000 to go to Mabvuku I but can’t come back into town,” said one man only identified as Munyaradzi.

The numbers of the people waiting to access their cash dwindled as it became apparent that there were not going to get any cash. A visit to Intermarket First Street revealed that the bank did not get any cash from the RBZ.

“We did not get cash in any denomination from the RBZ today and it was the same case for our counterparts from Central Africa Building Society (CABS). We have been getting little amounts all along but today nothing came so we have concluded that we will get it tomorrow, we hope,” said one teller at Intermarket.

Reasons for the delay in the cash injection could not be established from the RBZ.

Meanwhile the so called cash barons appeared to call Gono’s bluff as there were no major reports of deposits of the Z$200 000 bearer cheque. It appears as if the barons were busy “spreading their risk” just like Gono anticipated.

Rumour has it that some of the cash barons were notified by RBZ officials of the impending de-monetarisation of the bearer cheque and had made substantial deposits as from Monday to Tuesday. 

With Christmas around the corner people are hoping tomorrow will bring better fortunes as has been the tradition with Zimbabweans the festive period is the time they visit their rural areas but with the way things stand travel is not a priority.