In apparent defiance to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s warning against organisations that are exclusively demanding transactions in foreign currency, the Chiredzi Rural District Council is reportedly rejecting payment for services in the local currency.
In apparent concordance with his several sentiments on various public gatherings, President Mnangagwa recently made a clarion call on local businesses to desist from demanding payments in foreign currency at the expense of the struggling local Zig currency, saying:
“Then bond racho muchazoritsvaka nemeso matsvuku. You will look for the bond all over and not find it “
Speaking to a local regional publication, residents and corporates from the town said council has been forcing them to use foreign currency for services- an allegation denied by the local authority.
Ailes Baloyi, the Chiredzi RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), refuted the allegations, per the Mirror.
According to Baloyi, the allegations were being doctored by people who were bent on tarnishing the image of the local authority.
“We accept all kinds of payments. I am not aware of anyone turned away over foreign currency payments. Anyone in that situation is free to approach my office. We are a rural council and very few people make payment because our residents don’t pay water charges or rates. We are different from councils like Chiredzi Town Council,” Baloyi insisted.
And, reacting to council claims, a resident who refused to be named said:
“If council is denying that they are turning us away then we can openly say they are lying. If the government sends an investigating team they will see that payment made since the beginning of the year were in foreign currency. Would we say that was a coincidence? Obvious there is no such coincidence”.
Chiredzi RDC chairperson Edward Matsilele could not be reached for comment as his mobile was not reachable.
