Business
Big ‘No’ to quasi-fiscal activities: RBZ governor
But according to analysts true economic recovery was also being derailed by corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of transparency
IN A bid to restore price and currency stability the new Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mushayavanhu, yesterday declared that the apex bank will not deviate from its core functions by engaging in quasi-fiscal operations.
Dr Mushayavanhu was announcing his first Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) at which he launched a structured currency for the country.
“I do not believe in quasi-fiscal activities. It is not going to happen under my watch. My mandate as spelt out in the Reserve Bank Act is very clear and I have no intention to do other people’s jobs. I will do my job as the central bank governor as defined in the RBZ Act,” he said.
The 2024 MPS comes amid a sharp depreciation of the local currency that forced the economy to redollarise.
For a long time quasi-fiscal operations have been blamed for increasing money supply which triggers inflation.
But according to analysts true economic recovery was also being derailed by corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of transparency.
In a bid to inspire confidence through transparency he said ZiG will be backed by US$285 million in reserve funds held by the RBZ, namely, 2 522 kilogrammes of gold worth US$185 million and foreign currency of US$100 million.
“A structured currency is generally defined as a currency that is pegged to a specific exchange rate or currency basket and backed by a bundle of foreign exchange assets, potentially including gold,” Mushayavanhu said.
“This means a central bank can only issue domestic notes and coins when fully backed by a foreign reserve currency or foreign exchange assets and that the currency is fully convertible in the reserve currency on demand.”
He said that currently the entire local currency reserve is ZWL$2,66 trillion and requires full cover of gold and cash reserves equivalent to US$80 million.
Banks were ordered to convert the current Zimbabwe dollar balances into the new currency which shall be called Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) to foster simplicity, certainty, and predictability in monetary and financial affairs.
Citizens will use the official US$/ZWL$ and US$/ZiG exchange rates on any given day during the 21 days to convert their ZWL$ balances to ZiG.
Business
Power Giants Africa win in Zambia
‘The Zaba celebrates excellence, inspiration and success within the Zambian business community’
By BUSINESS REPORTER
BUSINESSMAN Edzai Kachirekwa and his company Power Giants Africa continue to receive international accolades with the latest ones at the Zambia Business Awards (Zaba) held recently.
Kachirekwa, who is the founding director of Power Giants Africa, was awarded the Businessman of the Year: Power Development and Renewable Energy Services Industry Africa Sadc Region.
His company received the Company of the Year: Power Development and Renewable Energy Services Industry Africa Sadc Region award.
The Zaba celebrates excellence, inspiration and success within the Zambian business community.
Kachirekwa attributed his successes to his faith in God that has led him to pursue excellence in the industry.
“In our industry we transform the challenges that we face as a nation into opportunities. My business attitude is in line with the word of God and these are the fruit of his blessings”
“My country Zimbabwe and other African nations cannot continue to experience power and energy deficits yet we have options that we can exploit including solar energy among others.”
Power Giants is a local company that specialises in transmission power lines construction, solar systems including construction of solar grids, domestic, industrial, mining, agricultural and commercial installations.
The company recently entered into a smart energy partnership deal with GNEE China that aims to create a billion-dollar solar project to resolve Zimbabwe’s chronic power deficit.
Business
Govt, Zanu PF issues Icarus-fate warning to motormouth Wicknell Chivayo
ASPIRING billionaire Wicknell Chivayo appears to have dug his own grave, less than a month after his company was awarded a lucrative Starlink deal to be the sole provider of in Zimbabwe
Reacting to a viral audio leaked recently were Chivayo bragged that the President was under his wings, government and Zanu PF spokespersons have issued a veiled warning to Chivayo against flying too close to the sun, by abusing his proximity to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In separate posts on X Nick Mangwana and Farai Marapira said Chivayo was forgetting that he was a nonentity in the political matrix of this country.
Mangwana said like Icarus Chivayo was flying too close to the sun, had quickly forgotten that his wings were made from wax which would easily melt.
“Icarus was warned by his father not to fly too close to the sun, as the wax that his wings were made from would melt. But fueled by the adrenaline rush of flying , Icarus failed to rein in his excitement and felt he was the man of the moment. He did not heed the warnings, Icarus was so intoxicated by the experience of flying and never thought he could tumble from this loft height, so he flew higher and higher getting closer and closer to the sun. The closer he came to the sun, the more the wax in his wings melted. He tumbled into the sea and drowned,” said Mangwana.
Zanu PF spokesperson Farai Muroiwa Marapira weighed in saying pride comes before a fall.
Breaking News
Dubai traffic management investor to inject over USD60 mln
“The installation of the Smart Traffic Management System will benefit Zimbabwe in a number of ways including the following: enforcement of the law by bringing to book all traffic regulation violators’
A DUBAI-BASED company that specialises in Smart Traffic Management Systems (STMS), Vitronic Machine Vision Middle East, will initially invest between US$60 to 80 million in installation of the Smart Traffic Management System
Cabinet has approved the engagement of Vitronic Machine Vision Middle East in implementing an SMTS in Zimbabwe following a report presented by Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage minister Kazembe Kazembe.
The company visited the country recently to carry out a feasibility study and engage key stakeholders.
The project will be implemented under a Public-Private-Partnership model and will, at inception, be implemented in Harare and Bulawayo Metropolitan provinces.
“The installation of the Smart Traffic Management System will benefit Zimbabwe in a number of ways including the following: enforcement of the law by bringing to book all traffic regulation violators; reduction of road carnage; reduction of traffic congestion in the Central Business District; reduction in corruption as there will be minimal human intervention; improved revenue streams for Government which will be used to improve policing; and improved national security as intelligent cameras will be installed and linked to the database of stolen vehicles and wanted criminals,” reads part of Kazembe’s report.
The company will recover its investment from fines paid for traffic violations through a revenue sharing arrangement.
The company has installed similar systems in a number of countries including Morocco, Rwanda, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany and Belarus.
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