Cops reject bond coin bribes

THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) faces a unique problem in its drive to promote the use of bond coins as police officers are accused of refusing to accept them - even as bribes.

Commuter omnibus drivers yesterday told RBZ boss John Mangudya that police officers were not accepting bribes in the form of bond coins.

Kombi drivers revealed this during a Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce company tour, where the governor wanted to get a general view of what was happening on the ground.

He then visited the Basch Street terminus, popularly known as Egodini, to address kombi drivers.

They told him that fuel service stations and police officers were not accepting bond coins.

"If we try to bribe police officers using bond coins, they tell us we should go to hell," one driver said, drawing laughter from his colleagues and the RBZ boss.

"I think the government must first educate the police to accept bond coins."

Mangudya was in Bulawayo to clear the air surrounding misconceptions associated with bond coins.

RBZ last year introduced new bond coins in denominations of 1c, 5c, 10c and 25c, with the 50c coin set to be introduced early next month.

Kombi drivers said bond coins were scarce in Bulawayo and they asked the governor to bring more.

They asked him to ban the South African rand from circulating in Bulawayo, arguing that it was making business hard for them.

Mangudya then promised to address their plights with immediate effects.

He said the coins were a good store of value and they did not signal the return of the local currency.