Vendors and some retailers in Harare are now rejecting the ZW$50, introduced in 2021 by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor John Mangudya.
The note was monikered Mbuya Nehanda because of its motif, which is that of the legendary Spirit Medium of Zimbabwe's First Chimurenga in the 1890s. Prices of basic goods and services have more than tripled in the past two years, a situation that has been made worse by stagnant wages, especially for government employees.
"Everyone prefers the US dollar and despite what is said by the government regards our currency we all know where it stands in terms of value regionally and even locally."