Albert Nyambara, a teacher from Marondera, has been summoned to appear before a magistrate after being arrested for attempting to convert his salary, paid in local currency (ZiG), into United States dollars.
Like other state employees, teachers receive part of their salary in US dollars and the remainder in ZiG. The US dollar is the predominant currency in Zimbabwe, accounting for over 70% of transactions.
Many government departments and businesses do not accept ZiG, forcing citizens to rely on unlicensed foreign currency dealers to convert their local currency earnings into USD.
According to the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), Nyambara is scheduled to appear at the Marondera Magistrates’ Court on September 23, 2024. ARTUZ said:
Zimbabwe adopted a multi-currency regime which will remain in place up to 2030. This teacher is being punished for choosing one currency ahead of the other in this same basket of currencies.
At the beginning of August 2024, the RBZ announced that USD accounted for 70% of all transactions.
The government doesn’t accept ZiG for passports neither do fuel traders. The bosses do not accept USD, but the working people have ZiG pushed down their throats.
The system punishes the poor and creates perfect opportunities for politically connected capital to flourish.
It is unacceptable and this has to stop. The working people should find each other and demand freedom now.
Nyambara, a school teacher at Waterloo Primary School in Macheke was arrested on 10 May 2024 and charged with illegal trade in foreign currency after he approached undercover police officers attempting to exchange his ZiG bank balance for US dollars.
According to a police memo, Albert Nyambara (37) unknowingly approached police detectives who were on surveillance for money traders outside N Richards Supermarket in Marondera.
Nyambara allegedly offered detectives from CID Commercial Crime Division Northern Regions his CABS card to purchase some groceries in exchange for US dollars. Reads the memo in part:
Accused person approaching the detectives who were pushing a trolley loaded with various groceries which include tiggle naks assorted 50X24 grams, Willards things 8X150 grams, baby soft tissues rolls white 2 ply 1X18, 2 Quire A4 papyrus FM Counter book X 1, Top Chef premium white rice 2X5 KG, Mazoe Orange Crush 6X2 Litres, Fizzi Cream-Soda 6X2 litres.
On approaching detectives, the accused person indicated that he had some ZiG in CABS Bank account and intended to swipe in exchange for US dollars at an offered rate of ZiG 14.11 per US $1-00 and in addition, he offered US$5 as a token of appreciation.
Accused person then gave detectives his CABS Bank card serial number 588925071472080 and he supplied the pin number as 2011.
Accused person then accompanied detectives to the till where they swiped for the groceries and he proceed outside the shop.
Accused person waited outside the shop and was given a receipt of the groceries worth ZiG999.07. Upon receiving the receipt, accused person calculated the equivalent in US dollars and he said amounted to US$70,80.
Detectives then gave the trap money to the accused person and subsequently arrested [him].
Nyambara initially appeared before a Marondera magistrate on 11 May and was released on a summons.
He was represented by lawyers from Makwanya Godfrey of Sakala Associates.
More: Pindula News