Tsholotsho residents bemoan lack of banks

By Thandeka Matebesi

Residents in Tsholotsho District, Matabeleland North have lamented the dearth of bank facilities in the area, claiming the status quo is negatively affecting their daily operations and livelihoods.

Family Choice manager M Rangarirai Ncube said that the supermarket has  had to make do with plastic money as a way of managing without a bank.”It is quite difficult to do business without a bank in the area. However, we really try to make use of plastic money,” said Ncube.

Family Choice supermarket is an agent of Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ) in Tsholotsho. Ncube added that residents  have challenges with cash deposits and opening accounts.

“Agent functions are limited  so we cannot do such things as account authorisation and issuing of statements. We also do not have the requisite machines to help residents with cash deposits. While we are able to assist residents with school fees deposits, we cannot do much with cash deposits.Cash deposits are a serious challenge among residents and we hope that CBZ will rectify the situation soon,” he said.

Tsholotsho Rural District Council Chairperson Councillor Esau Siwela said the only bank which was operating in the area closed early this year and efforts were underway to get another bank to set up offices in Tsholotsho.

“The bank which which we had closed it’s offices early this year and since then we don’t have anywhere to bank. However, we have engaged Agribank and we are still waiting for a favourable response from them,” said Siwela.

A local Reverend Tafadzwa Shariwa of the Methodist Church said they are banking in Bulawayo as a result of lack of a bank.

“Its been terrible, our finances are down and its expensive to follow a bank to Bulawayo just to bank. There is no news on when a new bank will open. We are stranded and now there are long queues at Mukuru agents”