Zim bans foreign currency

TOURISM stakeholders
in Zimbabwe are trying to
come to terms with the
government’s decision to
make the Zimbabwean dollar
the sole currency for legal
tender purposes.
The decision came into
effect on June 24, ending
the multicurrency regime the
country has been using. The
ruling states the pound, US$,
SA rand, Botswana pula and
any other foreign currency
are no longer legal tender
alongside the Zimbabwe
dollar.
Shane White, chief sales
and marketing officer of Wild
Horizons, says guests should
still be able to use their
credit cards at all shops,
hotels, and restaurants.
He adds that, as far as
Wild Horizons is aware,
foreign payments will
continue to be accepted
at ports of entry for things
such as visa payments.
Shane says the change
is intended to bring Zim
back to a situation where it
has its own currency once
more.
Bernie Cragg, director of
Far and Wide, a tour operator
in the Eastern Highlands,
says he will engage the
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority
for clarity on whether to
charge and accept payments
from tourists in foreign
currency.