Many caught out by ZWL transactions suspension

Many people were caught out by the suspension of local transactions following the introduction of the new currency by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on Friday.

Banks and mobile wallet service providers sent out notifications that they had suspended local services to allow for a currency changeover from ZWL to the newly launched ZiG. “Due to a currency switchover exercise, all ZWL transactions are currently unavailable on EcoCash. We will advise when normal service has been restored,” announced EcoCash in an SMS to its users and on social media platforms.

Banks also sent similar messages.

Many people complained about failing to but electricity, air time and paying for other services.

The Vehicle Inspection Department was also inoperational as it only accepts digital payments.

People who had turned up at the Eastlea VID station in the morning said they were told just after 9:00hrs that there would be no services offered until the changeover is complete.

“The official said after holding a meeting the management had realised that there was nothing that they could do but just wait for the system because they could not create a way of taking hard cash just like that. So we all had to go back home,” said one young man who had been intending to sit for the written test which is the first part in aquiring a driver's licence.