Desperate RBZ Launches ZiG Push Amid Growing Fears of Currency Collapse
By A Correspondent
HARARE – The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has launched a follow-up survey on ZiG, aiming to gauge public perception more than a year after the currency’s introduction. But for many Zimbabweans, the exercise comes amid mounting frustration and fear, as the local currency continues to struggle against persistent inflation and declining purchasing power.
“After more than one year since the introduction of ZiG, we are conducting a perception and confidence survey to better understand how individuals and businesses are responding to the currency,” the RBZ said on Monday. “Take a moment to complete the survey, which is accessible through the link rbzzigsurvey.com or the attached QR code.”
Critics argue the survey is little more than a public relations exercise, attempting to shore up confidence in a currency that has yet to prove its stability. Ordinary citizens report that converting foreign currency to ZiG for local transactions often leads to hidden costs and delays, while banks continue to struggle to meet demand for hard currency.
“People are being asked to trust ZiG, but every week prices rise, and savings are losing value,” said one Harare resident. “This survey won’t change the fact that the currency is failing us.”
The RBZ maintains that Zimbabwe is on a path toward a mono-currency system, with ZiG eventually replacing all foreign currencies for domestic transactions by 2030. Banks will still honor foreign currency requirements for imports, travel, and medical needs.
“The journey towards a mono-currency system has already begun,” the RBZ said. “It will be supported by policy interventions that promote stability, widen the use of ZiG, and ensure adequate foreign currency availability.”
Analysts, however, warn that without tangible reforms, the government risks pushing a weak currency on an increasingly skeptical population. “The central bank talks about confidence and stability, but the reality is a currency under constant pressure,” said one economist. “A survey cannot mask the systemic problems facing ZiG or prevent Zimbabweans from losing faith in it.”
As the survey rolls out, many citizens see it as another attempt by the RBZ to validate a policy that has yet to deliver real economic relief, leaving Zimbabweans wary of a currency whose collapse could have devastating consequences.
