For those keen on visiting Zimbabwe (even if just to Victoria Falls) you may have seen in the news reference to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's new rules regarding what is legal tender in that country.

Zimbabwe, of recent years, has been beset with issues regarding their currency, and has been using US Dollars in most cases for all transactions. However as of 24 June 2019 the Zimbabwe dollar is once again the sole currency for legal tender purposes (through Statutory Instrument (SI) 142 of 2019.

The wording inferred that NO OTHER currency was therefore acceptable for use in Zimbabwe. This is NOT THE CASE. In order to clarify: (SI) 142 of 2019, while re-introducing the Zimbabwe dollar as legal tender, does not preclude or ban or outlaw the use of other international currencies (such as US$, Euro, UK Pound, RSA Rand, Aus $ and so forth) in Zimbabwe for settlement of services such as  Tourism, customs duty on specific imports etc.

Therefore all international visitors to Zimbabwe can still settle for visas, accommodation, flights, excursions, meals, drinks and any related expenses in the same international currencies as before.

Understandably, Tourism is, one of the surest ways for the government to receive foreign currency and they are not tempering with its capacity to bring in much needed foreign funds.

Therefore (SI) 142 of 2019, is primarily targeted at domestic trade by Zimbabweans patronizing local businesses where the government would like for the Zimbabwe dollar to be the sole legal tender thus preserving the scarce foreign exchange for importation of essentials such as medication, fuel, technology and so forth.

The intervention sought by (SI 142 of 2019) is no different in intent to that of any other economy where the local citizenry uses a local currency for daily internal transactions.

In conclusion, Zimbabwe is still very much open for business and is working to get up to date with the IMF recommendations.

Great news that Cindy, one of the celebrity cheetah of Hwange, has returned to the Bomani / Camelthorn area, accompanied by one of her cubs. Cindy and her remaining, playful cub are well habituated to vehicles, and indeed to the lodges – both sauntered past the Bomani dining room recently pausing to drink at the trough near the pool, then lay down, ignoring the human activity so close to them.  The other well-known cheetah mother, Queenie, has been seen in the Kennedy pan area of the Park, still with two healthy cubs.

In more cheetah news, 2 males were recently photographed on the plains near Camelthorn, and a search of the Cheetah Zimbabwe research database failed to identify them.  This is excellent news that individuals are still able to migrate long distances between different populations.  These latest cheetah are in their prime, at about 4 years old.

The researchers also had an interesting sighting recently of a male who was born at Ngweshla in the Park in December 2010, and who disappeared for four years until he triggered a camera trap across the Botswana border west of Hwange in 2017. Based on recent sightings, he is now a resident in the Shumba area, near remote Nehimba lodge in the north of Hwange. Great news indeed.