POSB rocked by USD cash shortages

Providence Moyo

 Pensioners in Bulawayo have expressed their displeasure on shortages of  United States dollars at the People’s Own Savings Bank (POSB).

Cash was last available on Monday morning before 10 am and till date residents are still queuing to no avail. One senior citizen who was on the queue on Tuesday morning who identified herself as NaSkhumbuzo said the status quo at the bank was inconveniencing customers especially, the elderly who  frequent the bank but return home empty handed.

“Sesivukela ebank sitshiye izinto zethu zimile kambe kusuka ngo Mvulo besithi akulamali. Ngilamalanga amathathu ngibuya lapha ngibuyela ngekhaya ngingelamali ngoba ngo Mvulo bathatha ihletshana labantu bathi imali isiphelile,” she said.

 Another Bulawayo, Andile Bhebhe said it was out of character for the bank to turn away its clients empty handed.

“Thina sikwazi ukuthi ungafika lapha uyangena uthole imali yakho ngemizuzu uyabusuphumile ikakhulu ma sikhangele ukuthi abantu abanengi ngalesi isikhathi bayabe sebethethe imali zabo kodwa kulinyanga lokhe sibuya simiswe sitshone sihleli ilanga lonke size sisuke lapho sebevala ngethemba lokuthi sizezwa sesibizwa kodwa iskhathi sokuvala siyatshaya sihlezi simelele,” he said.

 A man who claimed to have travelled from St Lukes said he woke up in the wee hours of the morning to be at the bank ahead of time only to be disappointed to learn that he would not be returning home on the same day because he was hoping to receive cash, part of which would have been channeled towards securing transport back home.

Addressing the queue at one of the branches along Leopold Takawira, two bank staff members said the  bank was not sure when the situation would normalize and that all their branches were having the same cash challenge.

This reporter visited  two neighbouring banks, namely First Capital and Empowerbank and noted that they had USD cash and were serving their clients.