Ncube said that he met with an Association of teachers which lamented over their inability to buy basic commodities from shops and medical facilities which were pricing their goods and services mainly in US dollars. Most workers in Zimbabwe are paid in the local quasicurrency, the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS).
The RTGS dollar has been losing value against foreign currencies since its introduction in February. Consequently, inflation has been rising at an unparalleled rate. This in turn eroded the salaries of workers.
The minister also said that the introduction of the new Zimbabwe dollar does not change a lot of things. He said that the Zimbabwe dollar is comprised of the RTGS dollar (notes and coins).
He added that this newly introduced currency will be the only legal tender in Zimbabwe.
The Reserve Bank’s Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 stipulates that all foreign currencies including the British pound, Botswana pula, and the South African rand are no longer legal tender in Zimbabwe.
Veritas Zimbabwe however said that the statement is vague as it does not outlaw the pricing of goods in US$. iT said:
