TheZimbabweanfinancialsectorhasbeenretrogressive,constrained,andunpredictablesincetheyear2000,servingforthemultiplecurrencyperiods(2009-2013)afterthedemonetizationofthedomesticdollar.ThesectorsincethenhasseenanumberofcommercialbanksfailtomeetRBZ(ReserveBankofZimbabwe)minimumcapitalrequirements,putundercuratorship,delistedorliquidatedbecauseofamyriadofoperationalandfinancialchallenges.Theobjectiveofthisstudyistomakeanassessmentofwhetherornottheintroductionofbondnoteshasbeenacurseorblessing.Thestudydrewrawdatafrombankaccountholders,academics,generalpublic,corporateworldandcommercialbanksinMasvingoforanalysisandinterpretation.Thestudyestablishedthatthemajorityofpeople,corporateworldandcommercialbankswerescepticaltoembracethesurrogatebondnotesbecauseoftheuncertainties,operationalandfinancialrisksthattheypausedonthedomesticfinancialmarkets.Itwasalsodiscoveredthatmostbankswerequicktopayclients’withdrawalsinbondnotes,deductUSdollarequivalencesfromtheiraccounts,anddistinguishbondnotesfromUSdollarsatthepointofmakingdepositsandforeignbusinesstransactions.ItwasalsorealizedthattherewasmarketindisciplineandtradinginbiggerUSdollarnotesintheinformalsectorandseriousshortageofthesamenotesintheformalsector.ThestudyconcludedthattheintroductionofbondnotestotradeparalleltotheUSdollarbroughtaseriousshortageofcashonformalmarketsandincreasesinthegeneralpricelevelofgoodsandservices.ThestudythereforerecommendsthattheRBZshouldcompletelywithdrawthebondnotesfromthemarkettoaccordtheUSdollaritsworldmarketvalueandrestoreconfidenceanddisciplineintheZimbabweanfinancialsector.ThestudyalsorecommendsanotheroptionoftheadoptionoftheSouthAfricanRandasaninterventionistwayofsolvingZimbabwe’sliquiditycrises.
