Munesu Chigada
Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South)-Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa drew the ire of Parliamentarians on Wednesday when he professed ignorance about the existance of a money-selling black market in the midst of the current cash shortages in Zimbabwe.
Chinamasa was responding to a question by ZANU PF MP Mapiki who asked “what is government policy regarding cash barons who are selling money at rates as high as 35 percent?”
The Minister rebuffed the question by calling for written notice furher angering the assembled legislators.
“”I would like to suggest that he writes down his question so that I can examine and understand if what has been said is true because I don’t know about it,” said the minister to wild admonitions.
Facing stiff opposition from both sides of the house Chinamasa changed tact and conceded that the RBZ is dealing with such matters.
“Barons selling money that is outside the law.
“The Reserve Bank has been arresting some who would have done that’, he said, denying that the issue is under his purview.
MDC-T MP for Binga North Prince Dubeko Sibanda queried the Minster’s statement asking that, “I want to find out if the Honourable Minister is still responsible for Finance and is still staying in this country?”
Mkoba MP Amos Chibaya added, “Banks all have queues but if we go behind Parliament at the 4th Street Bus Terminus, they are selling (money) in broad light.
“We want the minister to tell us if his inaction means it’s his money.”
“There is no law to send then to jail but the Banking Act allows the central bank to impose penalties. We agreed in cabinet for the law to be there, we are drafting the bills”, he said.
The scourge of money selling black marketers has increased as cash shortages have continued spiralling out of control.
Those with access to cash are charging those who want to take money out of their Ecocash accounts placing exorbitant charges.
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