The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has dismissed as false suggestions by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) that the state may once again seize money belonging to private companies and companies amid serious concerns over the devaluation of the local dollar.
The RBZ also reacted angrily over assertions that the local currency can’t sustain the economy anymore due to its free fall in the open and black market.
In a statement, the RBZ criticized the CZI for publishing a paper a few days ago, “which it styled as an urgent engagement paper on the currency situation in the country.”
The RBZ said, “In that paper, CZI called for, inter alia, the suspension of the foreign exchange auction system and alleged that a mono-currency system was in place and also made unfounded references to “raiding” of foreign currency accounts and a bank run.
“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (the Bank) wishes to draw the public’s attention to the fact that the contents of the CZI paper are a response to rumours and not based on facts on the ground. The contents of the said CZI paper and the impressions depicted therein are unfortunate and uncalled for as they have the potential of destabilising financial markets and economic stability of the country.”
For clarity and avoidance of doubt, the RBZ advised the public that government and the bank are committed to an orderly de-dollarisation process and hence it is “false that a mono-currency system is now in place.”
The RBZ said, “The foreign exchange auction system remains in place and will not be suspended as doing so will cause shortages of goods in the market and abet inflation. All foreign exchange accounts are safe and the Bank has no reason or appetite to “raid” the accounts as alleged in the CZI paper.
“The Bank has also noted with serious concern that CZI has published the paper without engaging it to establish the veracity of the rumours that motivated the paper. Consequently, CZI has created a negative impression that has the effect of stocking market confusion and inflation. The Bank is always at the disposal of stakeholders, including CZI, for discussion and dialogue with a view to fostering interests of industry and the economy and avoid causing market instability. The Bank therefore advises that the contents of the CZI paper in question should be disregarded.”
The Zimbabwe dollar is trading at US$1: ZWL$150 in the auction floor and ZWL$300 in the black market.