RBZ Urges Zimbabweans to Embrace ZiG Currency

New ZiG banknotes featuring Zimbabwe’s Big Five wildlife

HARARE – A senior official at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has urged citizens to change their perceptions of the country’s local currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), saying public confidence is critical for the nation’s long-term goal of achieving a mono-currency economy.

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement meeting in Chinhoyi this week, RBZ Legal and Corporate Affairs Director Virginia Sithole said Zimbabweans must move beyond negative experiences associated with previous local currencies and give the ZiG a chance. Sithole acknowledged that many citizens had suffered losses due to past currency instability but argued that the current unit has shown signs of improved performance.

“As Zimbabweans, the ZiG is a symbol of our national identity and pride. Let us embrace it,” she said. “Yes, I know most people have had unmemorable experiences with previous local currencies, but we need to change that mindset because the ZiG has done so well, resulting in annual inflation tumbling to single digits, a phenomenon that never happened in over 30 years.”

New ZiG Banknotes Coming in April

The RBZ is currently conducting public outreach meetings across Mashonaland West ahead of the rollout of upgraded ZiG banknotes scheduled for 7 April 2026. The new notes will be issued in 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 ZiG denominations and will feature images of Zimbabwe’s Big Five wildlife, alongside enhanced security features and improved durability. Authorities say the upgrade is meant to strengthen confidence in the local currency, reduce counterfeiting, and improve everyday transactions.

Sithole stressed that the rollout should not be interpreted as the introduction of a new currency but rather an upgrade to existing notes.

“The public must be mindful that we are not introducing a new currency, but improved and upgraded ZiG notes which meet international standards,” she said. “They are more durable, but citizens must improve their handling etiquette to ensure they remain in circulation for the longest possible time.”

Officials Cite Macroeconomic Stability

RBZ Deputy Director for Economic Research, Modelling and Policy William Kavila said the launch of the upgraded notes coincides with what authorities describe as improved macroeconomic stability. According to Kavila, Zimbabwe’s annual inflation rate has dropped to single digits for the first time in three decades, which he said creates favourable conditions for introducing higher-quality currency notes.

“The annual inflation rate has hit an all-time low, single digit, for the first time in three decades. Therefore, the timing to invest in more durable notes could not have come at a more opportune moment,” he said.

Nationwide Education Campaign

Over the next month, the RBZ plans to run a nationwide public education campaign to familiarise citizens with the new notes and their security features. Douglas Chiwiro, Director of Economic Affairs in the office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West, said local government structures have already been mobilised to support the initiative.

District development coordinators will help organise community meetings aimed at encouraging people to adopt the ZiG and increase financial literacy. In remarks delivered on behalf of Marian Chombo, officials said the rollout forms part of broader reforms under National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2). Authorities argue that wider use of the local currency would strengthen economic sovereignty by enabling Zimbabwe to manage its fiscal, monetary, and exchange-rate policies more effectively.

“The introduction of the upgraded ZiG banknotes is part of a broader economic reform agenda designed to consolidate stability, restore confidence and support sustainable economic growth,” the statement said.

ZiG currency Zimbabwe