Zimbabwe's persistent cash crisis has fuelled the rise of a dual-pricing system. Companies and businesses in the country are increasingly offering discounts of between 5% and 10% on the marked prices of goods in an attempt to lure buyers to pay in cash. Those without cash can still settle bills using plastic money - although this is the least attractive option. Strict withdrawal limits of $80 (R1,108) for individuals and $200 (R2,770) for companies make accessing funds held in banks a nightmare. For most people, getting their hands on the scarce US dollars ahead of the release of the bond notes by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has become a priority. Local banks are struggling to fund their nostro accounts as they use their reserves to meet local demand, and international banks such as the Bank of China and Commerzbank of Germany have cut ties with Zimbabwean banks as a result. A nostro account is an account that a bank holds in a foreign currency in another bank. In his midterm fisca...
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