Will the launch of Zimbabwe’s new currency help local retail sector?

Unveiling the new notes on Friday (5 April), John Mushayavanhu, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, said the ZiG would be structured and set at a market-determined exchange rate. 

The ZiG replaces a Zimbabwean dollar which has lost three-quarters of its value so far this year.  

According to a BBC report, annual inflation in March reached 55% – a seven-month high. The broadcaster added that the US dollar, which accounts for 85% of transactions, will remain legal tender and most people are likely to continue to prefer this. 

An early April report by Trendtype, the emerging markets investment consultancy, said major Zimbabwe supermarket chains such as Spar and TM (Pick n Pay) have adopted exclusive US dollar pricing in stores.  

“The continued loss in value of the Zimbabwean dollar, which has depreciated by more than 70% in 2024, has caused huge problems for retailers who need to pay suppliers in US dollars but until recently have been mandated by the government to accept payments in local currency,” the consultancy stated. 

It quoted the Retailers Association of Zimbabwe as saying that local manufacturers are more interested in supplying those who buy in US dollars than local currency. 

Retail pricing has been in two currencies 

“Retailers are supposed to price products in the local currency as well as giving the option to price in US dollars using the official exchange rate,” Trendtype noted. 

“But the official rate (at that time) is some distance apart from the black-market rate, meaning that retailers have to increase the Zimbabwean dollar rate to remain profitable, which in turn disadvantages them against traditional retailers.” 

Newsday, the Harare-based daily newspaper, reported in a February 2024 article that “the economy is edging closer to full dollarisation amid reports that the informal sector is rejecting the dual-pricing regime, exclusively selling in the United States dollar. 

“Latest figures released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) yesterday (8 February), showed that 83% of transactions on key food purchases at national level were done in United States dollars.” 

Looking at the retail sector, Trendtype noted in its report: “Despite hyperinflation, several retail businesses are adapting and thriving, although some are not.  

“Truworths has closed stores. But TM (Pick n Pay) continues to open new outlets, as does major fast-food retailer Simbisa Brands. Powerspeed Electrical a local electricals retailer, has 22 branches and a retail space of 22,080m² in Zimbabwe. It plans to have 44,000m² of retail space within the next five years and sales volume growth of 90%.” 

The new ZiG banknotes come in denominations of between 1 and 200.