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Jerry Chifamba

The decision by President Mnangagwa and his progressive Second Republic to replace the Zimbabwe dollar with the Zimbabwe Gold (ZWG) in April this year was a masterstroke as the bullion and foreign currency-backed currency has proven to be extremely stable.

The stability has brought hope and resilience to the market and is restoring confidence in the local currency.

The official exchange rate of the ZiG to the United States dollar stands at a robust 13,9 to 1, which is a testament to the currency’s strength and buying power – the best Zimbabweans have seen in decades.

The resilience of the country’s new currency has added a feather to President Mnangagwa’s ambitious reform agenda, which has seen serious infrastructure development programmes taking place across the country as enablers for Zimbabwe to become a middle-income society by 2030.

President Mnangagwa’s leadership since taking over from his predecessor, Cde Robert Mugabe, has been nothing short of transformative.

His Second Republic’s vision involves a mix of sweeping reforms, restructuring, and rebuilding, with the success of the ZiG at the heart of this grand plan.

The President has assured citizens that Zimbabwe will overcome present challenges, including natural disasters, the climate crisis, and the divisive politics and business practices being perpetuated by unpatriotic opposition parties and economic saboteurs.

It is from these economic saboteurs that the ZiG has been under threat.

Despite spirited efforts by the Government, monetary authorities, and security forces to clamp down on the illegal black market, players in the market have been relentless in their efforts to cause distortion and undermine the country’s currency.

As a nation, we cannot afford or allow this to happen.

The ZiG cannot and should not be allowed to fail.

Decisive action to rid the economy of the destabilizing black market is now the crucial next step.

Without addressing this underlying issue, the ZiG’s stability and, by extension, President Mnangagwa’s broader reform agenda, will remain at risk.

The stakes are high, but the President is up to the task, and with the support of all patriotic Zimbabweans, he will ensure that the country will take its rightful place as a prosperous and self-sufficient nation.