Long queues of people waited outside banks on Saturday in central Harare amid fears of more strikes and reports banks were limiting cash withdrawals.
There were many people waiting outside cash machines in Harare’s main First Street and surrounding areas.
A three-day stay-away last month left banks and customers struggling for cash and the situation appears to have worsened since, with state media reporting that the central bank no longer has the necessary foreign currency to print new notes.
Fuelling the anxiety, the state-owned Herald newspaper on Saturday reported that cash shortages had resurfaced at ”most banks in Harare”.
”Now we can’t even get our money when we need it,” the paper quoted one would-be customer, Godwill Munyimi, as saying.
The paper said customers were only being allowed to withdraw a maximum of up to 20 000 Zimbabwe dollars ($24, 20 euros).
Zimbabweans are struggling under shortages of many basic goods, including foodstuffs and fuel, while inflation has now topped 269%.
Monday is a public holiday in Zimbabwe and there have been reports there could be more protest stay-aways soon, although the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has set no definite date.
Meanwhile, last week the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) advised people to stock up on provisions and to keep money aside for a possible indefinite job stay-away. ‒ Sapa-AFP