Harare, Zimbabwe – Kenias Mutsenha had long ceased using his Zimbabwean local currency bank account, abandoning it for one trading in US dollars, as many in the economically volatile country prefer dealing with more stable foreign currencies.

But when he took on consultancy work in Harare this year and a client needed to pay him in Zimbabwe Gold, or ZiG, currency, he returned to the bank to reopen his account. There, the teller asked for a reactivation fee in ZiG notes. Again, Mutsenha only had US dollars, which the bank would not accept or exchange.

“I had to find cash somewhere,” Mutsenha, 46, said, realising there was only one place he could go: “The streets”.

While most Zimbabweans prefer trading in US dollars – to avoid the pitfalls of major currency fluctuations – government ins

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