• Zimbabwe’s finance minister has enlisted war veterans to declare war on those who do not accept the country’s new currency.
• State security apparatuses are on the lookout for illegal money traders in public.
• A member of one of the elite ruling party political families was arrested on allegations of illegal money trading.

A month after the introduction of the gold-backed ZiG currency in Zimbabwe, the government has set up Gestapo-like surveillance mechanisms to catch those who reject the new money.

Addressing the country’s liberation veterans in Bulawayo on Saturday, Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube urged them to declare war on those alleged to be against the currency.

“You guys fought for the independence of this country, you should now fight for this new currency,” he said.

In recent years, war veterans have played a militant role in propping up the regime and enforcing its policies.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit and Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission are each running separate operations to enforce the acceptance of ZiG.

National police spokesperson assistant commissioner Paul Nyathi told the media so far, 224 alleged illegal foreign currency traders or money changers had been arrested, and 90 bank accounts frozen.

Last week, a transaction landed a teacher in jail on allegations of illegal money trading.