Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09HARARE266
2009-03-27 10:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
BANKS STRUGGLE WITH LOGISTICS OF PAYMENTS TO CIVIL
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000266
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S OR B. WALCH
AF/EPS FOR ANN BREITER
DRL FOR N. WILETT
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND J. HARMON
TREASURY FOR D. PETERS
COMMERCE FOR ROBERT TELCHIN
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL ECON ASEC EAID ZI
SUBJECT: BANKS STRUGGLE WITH LOGISTICS OF PAYMENTS TO CIVIL
SERVANTS
REF: HARARE 232
-------
Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000266
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S OR B. WALCH
AF/EPS FOR ANN BREITER
DRL FOR N. WILETT
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND J. HARMON
TREASURY FOR D. PETERS
COMMERCE FOR ROBERT TELCHIN
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL ECON ASEC EAID ZI
SUBJECT: BANKS STRUGGLE WITH LOGISTICS OF PAYMENTS TO CIVIL
SERVANTS
REF: HARARE 232
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (U) Funds have been released to pay government employees
the March US$100 foreign exchange allowance that tops up
their worthless Zimbabwe dollar salaries. At mid-month,
however, when the allowances were due to be paid, many
recipients were not able to withdraw the funds due to
shortcomings in the banking sector's payment system and the
logistical challenges of importing and distributing cash to
all bank branches. Government employees in rural areas were
still struggling to access the allowance at month's end.
With the official Poverty Datum Line for a family of five set
at a generous US$552 per month, even assuming cash
distribution problems are solved, the meager allowance will
not satisfy civil servants and the uniformed forces, leading
to frustration and impatience within these important
populations. End Summary.
--------------
Payment System to Blame for Delays
--------------
2. (SBU) Martha Mugwenhi, Deputy Director of Domestic and
International Finance in the Ministry of Finance, told
economic specialist on March 25, 2009 that the GOZ had again
paid out a US$100 monthly allowance in March to all civil
servants and uniformed forces as a top-up to their
(worthless) Zimbabwe dollar salaries. Deficiencies in the
banking sector's payments system had prevented many civil
servants from accessing their allowance quickly, as local
banks have to clear foreign currency payments at their
offshore Nostro accounts rather than domestically (reftel).
Ron Mutandagayi, Chief Operating Officer of ZB Bank, told us
on March 24, 2009 that banks had not been able to import cash
fast enough and distribute it to their branches to pay civil
servants on time.
-------------- --------------
Importing and Distributing Cash Further Challenge
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) Dr. John Mangudya, president of the Bankers
Association of Zimbabwe and managing director of CBZ pointed
out to us on March 26 that the majority of government
employees banked at non-commercial banks such as POSB (a
savings bank),CABS (a building society) and Agribank (a
government-owned bank for the agricultural sector),which had
the widest network of branches in Zimbabwe. The non-bank
financial institutions, in particular, were still struggling
with the combined problems of offshore payments and the
importation and distribution of cash, especially to rural
areas. Long lines had reappeared outside these institutions.
Agribank has the additional problem of being unable to open
Nostro accounts due to being a sanctioned entity; it has to
QNostro accounts due to being a sanctioned entity; it has to
rely on third parties to import US dollars on its behalf.
School headmasters in rural villages told us today that their
teachers were still struggling to access the allowance paid
into their bank accounts, leaving classrooms empty as
HARARE 00000266 002 OF 002
teachers spend their days waiting outside banks. Commercial
banks, on the other hand, had been able to use their foreign
exchange cash flow to pay out allowances upon deposit.
--------------
Government Employees Mired in Poverty
--------------
4. (U) The government's Central Statistical Office announced
this week that the Poverty Datum Line for a family of five
was US$552 in January, 2009. (NOTE: In contrast, GDP per
capita is only about a dollar a day, about 27% of the
calculated poverty datum line. END NOTE.) Although prices
have been falling since January, the US dollar allowance
still leaves the vast majority of civil servants and
uniformed forces mired in poverty.
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (U) Following government promises to pay salaries in
foreign currency, even assuming cash distribution problems
are solved, the meager allowance will be insufficient to
satisfy civil servants and the uniformed forces, leading to
frustration and impatience within these important populations.
DHANANI
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S OR B. WALCH
AF/EPS FOR ANN BREITER
DRL FOR N. WILETT
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND J. HARMON
TREASURY FOR D. PETERS
COMMERCE FOR ROBERT TELCHIN
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL ECON ASEC EAID ZI
SUBJECT: BANKS STRUGGLE WITH LOGISTICS OF PAYMENTS TO CIVIL
SERVANTS
REF: HARARE 232
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (U) Funds have been released to pay government employees
the March US$100 foreign exchange allowance that tops up
their worthless Zimbabwe dollar salaries. At mid-month,
however, when the allowances were due to be paid, many
recipients were not able to withdraw the funds due to
shortcomings in the banking sector's payment system and the
logistical challenges of importing and distributing cash to
all bank branches. Government employees in rural areas were
still struggling to access the allowance at month's end.
With the official Poverty Datum Line for a family of five set
at a generous US$552 per month, even assuming cash
distribution problems are solved, the meager allowance will
not satisfy civil servants and the uniformed forces, leading
to frustration and impatience within these important
populations. End Summary.
--------------
Payment System to Blame for Delays
--------------
2. (SBU) Martha Mugwenhi, Deputy Director of Domestic and
International Finance in the Ministry of Finance, told
economic specialist on March 25, 2009 that the GOZ had again
paid out a US$100 monthly allowance in March to all civil
servants and uniformed forces as a top-up to their
(worthless) Zimbabwe dollar salaries. Deficiencies in the
banking sector's payments system had prevented many civil
servants from accessing their allowance quickly, as local
banks have to clear foreign currency payments at their
offshore Nostro accounts rather than domestically (reftel).
Ron Mutandagayi, Chief Operating Officer of ZB Bank, told us
on March 24, 2009 that banks had not been able to import cash
fast enough and distribute it to their branches to pay civil
servants on time.
-------------- --------------
Importing and Distributing Cash Further Challenge
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) Dr. John Mangudya, president of the Bankers
Association of Zimbabwe and managing director of CBZ pointed
out to us on March 26 that the majority of government
employees banked at non-commercial banks such as POSB (a
savings bank),CABS (a building society) and Agribank (a
government-owned bank for the agricultural sector),which had
the widest network of branches in Zimbabwe. The non-bank
financial institutions, in particular, were still struggling
with the combined problems of offshore payments and the
importation and distribution of cash, especially to rural
areas. Long lines had reappeared outside these institutions.
Agribank has the additional problem of being unable to open
Nostro accounts due to being a sanctioned entity; it has to
QNostro accounts due to being a sanctioned entity; it has to
rely on third parties to import US dollars on its behalf.
School headmasters in rural villages told us today that their
teachers were still struggling to access the allowance paid
into their bank accounts, leaving classrooms empty as
HARARE 00000266 002 OF 002
teachers spend their days waiting outside banks. Commercial
banks, on the other hand, had been able to use their foreign
exchange cash flow to pay out allowances upon deposit.
--------------
Government Employees Mired in Poverty
--------------
4. (U) The government's Central Statistical Office announced
this week that the Poverty Datum Line for a family of five
was US$552 in January, 2009. (NOTE: In contrast, GDP per
capita is only about a dollar a day, about 27% of the
calculated poverty datum line. END NOTE.) Although prices
have been falling since January, the US dollar allowance
still leaves the vast majority of civil servants and
uniformed forces mired in poverty.
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (U) Following government promises to pay salaries in
foreign currency, even assuming cash distribution problems
are solved, the meager allowance will be insufficient to
satisfy civil servants and the uniformed forces, leading to
frustration and impatience within these important populations.
DHANANI