Zimbabwe Plans to Jail Anyone Using the US Dollar?: Nick Mangwana Clears the Air Amid Viral Claims

Zimbabwe Plans to Jail Anyone Using the US Dollar?: Nick Mangwana Clears the Air Amid Viral Claims

Nick Mangwana, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, has swiftly responded to a report claiming that Zimbabwe has introduced a law to jail anyone using the US dollar or any other foreign currency for up to 10 years.

Also read: RBZ Launches Snitch Hotline: FIU Urges Zimbos to Report Businesses Rejecting ZiG or Using Black Market Rates

Claims of the New Law

The alleged development was reported on Wednesday by @BRICSInfo on X (formerly Twitter).

A post on the @BRICSInfo Twitter account claimed that Zimbabwe had introduced a law to jail anyone caught using the US dollar or other foreign currencies for up to 10 years.

“JUST IN: Zimbabwe introduces plan to jail individuals caught using the US Dollar and other foreign currency for up to 10 years,” @BRICSInfo claimed.

Apart from the recently introduced Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), Zimbabwe uses a variety of foreign currencies, including the US dollar, for transactions. Naturally, the news that the country was introducing a law criminalizing the use of the US dollar caused panic among the public.

Also read: Government Explains Why It Is Charging Passports In US Dollars And Not ZiG

Nick Mangwana Reveals Whether Zimbabwe Plans to Jail Anyone Using the US Dollar

To allay fears, Nick Mangwana took to his X account, reassuring Zimbabweans that the viral report has no basis in truth. He reaffirmed that Zimbabwe remains in a multi-currency regime, allowing the use of various foreign currencies, including the US dollar.

“We would like to assure the Nation that this post has no base in truth. We reaffirm that Zimbabwe is in a multicurrency regime,” Nick Mangawana explained on X.

Also read: Good News For Zimbabwean Motorists: You Can Now Buy Fuel Using ZiG, But There’s a Catch

Public Reactions: Scepticism and Appreciation

The public response to Mangwana’s statement was mixed. While some Zimbabweans welcomed the clarification, others expressed scepticism, citing the government’s previous denials of social media reports that later proved to be true. Here are some of the reactions:

@tfmadyangove:

We know that he is a lier that one don’t mind him perm secretary @nickmangwana

@Mcdhoni11:

Zig hariitewo kushandisa Thanks Cde Nick

@NDAGUMBUKA:

Kkkkk ndaseka hangu asi vanogona kunge varikutotaura zviku rongwa nehurumende yedu ….vanhu vacho havana machokwadi

@MakuvaroShoko:

We might hate the American imperialists but we love their money hedu. We will use it till donkeys grow horns.

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