Civic organisations in Zimbabwe have condemned the planned introduction of bond notes saying the move will worsen the country’s economic situation as they do not add any value to the nation.
During a meeting organised by Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, ZimRights Director, Okay Machisa said, “The government is turning itself into a technical thug by bringing bond notes to the people because these notes will only save for their interests not for the people.
“We have a duty to save the community form being robbed by the thieves who come in the form of a government,” said Machisa.
He also said that the citizens must be told how that government is stealing money, citing the Zimdef scandal as an example, and said the bond notes will come as a cover up to what has been stolen.
Pro-democracy activist, Gift Ostalos Siziba who is also a student at the University of Zimbabwe said the government is using a crooked way to loot state resources.
“We need to do something urgently because the government will continue stealing from people using tactical jargon to confuse people. They talk of so many statutory instruments which a man in the street does not understand,” said Siziba.
Zimbabwe Women in Politics Alliance Director, Linda Masarira chipped in saying bond notes were a challenge to ordinary people.
“Only the ordinary citizens will suffer because once this ‘surrogate currency’ starts circulating, the 2008 situation will return,” said Masarira.
Dr Godfrey Kanyenze who is the Director of Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe (LEDRIZ) said bond notes will not solve the challenges facing the country but rather worsen the situation.
“The introduction of bond notes shows the fiscal indiscipline that has been responsible for all this corruption and pillage is back,” said Kanyenze.
The meeting was attended by different civil organisations including Zimbabwe Human Rights, Zimbabwe Women in Politics Alliance, #Tajamuka, Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe and Restoration of Human Rights among others.
