Mugabe has failed, says War Veterans

WAR veterans have  described the imminent introduction of bond notes   as a desperate ploy by a failed government.

In resolutions made following countrywide meetings with the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association (ZNLWVA) members, the group resolved to demand that President Robert Mugabe sets up a commission of inquiry into the
disappearance of over $15 billion in diamond revenue, an end to corruption and the sacking of Energy minister Samuel Undenge.

ZNLWVA spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya confirmed the resolutions, accusing top government officials of creating artificial cash shortages and "then turning around to announce they will print bond notes".

"The printing of bond notes is a sign of government failure. The fact that they are resorting to printing bond notes to deal with the current crisis is not a sign that government has excelled. It has failed," he said.

"This is supposed to be a people's government, which should derive its power from citizens. We need to see the democratic aspect of governance in policies such as the issuing of bond notes."

"Government must listen to its people. Zimbabweans must be consulted, educated and their concerns taken into account before the bond notes are introduced. Those in power or close to it are the ones with the money and they will mop up every saving that our people have using the bond notes. It's a ploy to benefit from another black market corruption and that is wrong. It can only leave the people high and dry."

Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, John Mangudya have been at pains to explain the rationale behind the bond notes set to be introduced in October this year. A sceptical public has grilled the pair and accused monetary authorities of seeking to re-introduce the Zimdollar "through the back door".