In an embarrassing twist that exposes Zimbabwe’s worsening credibility crisis, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga recently made a false claim at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, saying the now-abandoned bond notes were first introduced during the Rhodesian colonial era. This is completely false. The bond notes were launched in 2016 under the late President Robert Mugabe, long after independence, as an emergency tool to deal with cash shortages. They have no connection whatsoever to Ian Smith’s Rhodesia.

Chiwenga’s shocking blunder is just one example of how top officials are misinforming the public about Zimbabwe’s economic history and current policies. This misinformation is especially dangerous now, as the government is trying to launch a new currency called Zimbabwe Gold, or ZiG. Instead of building trust, these false statements are fueling public doubt and confusion.

The damage didn’t stop there. Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor John Mushayavanhu added to the confusion when he claimed the World Bank was consulted in creating the ZiG currency. The World Bank quickly denied this, making it clear that no such talks ever happened. This public contradiction has hurt Mushayavanhu’s credibility and made many Zimbabweans question whether their leaders are being honest about the country’s finances.

Meanwhile, Zanu PF spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa jumped into the mix with another false claim, saying ZiG is a return to the use of gold as money, like in ancient times. This is also not true. While Zimbabwe is rich in gold, and gold was traded in ancient times, it was never used as a national currency. Historians like Dr. Tinashe Nyamunda confirm that gold was traded, not used to mint money. Zimbabwe’s real economic history is grounded in agriculture and fiat currencies, not gold coins or gold-backed systems.

This pattern of misleading statements from government leaders is not just about getting facts wrong—it is actively damaging confidence in the new currency. People are already skeptical because of past currency disasters like the Zimbabwe dollar collapse and the failure of bond notes. When top officials twist the truth or make things up, it only makes things worse.

To make matters more alarming, the government is now using forceful methods to try to make the ZiG currency work. Reports suggest officials are using pressure and fear tactics, instead of building a solid economic foundation. This approach reminds many people of the dark days of forced price controls and currency seizures. Such tactics failed before and will likely fail again.

The truth is, the ZiG currency is being rushed into a weak economy. The government claims it has enough reserves—about US$285 million in cash and gold—but many experts say that amount is far too small to support a national currency. For comparison, successful countries with stable currencies usually have reserves in the billions. Zimbabwe is trying to build a castle on sand, and no amount of false history will change that.

Worse still, the official narrative seems more focused on winning hearts through propaganda than solving real economic problems. The idea that ZiG is backed by gold and tied to ancient traditions may sound nice, but it is simply not true. Zimbabweans deserve honest leadership, not fairy tales meant to hide policy failures.

As the new ZiG currency prepares to enter circulation, the government must take a different path. It must stop spreading misinformation, admit past mistakes, and focus on real economic reforms. People want to see jobs, stable prices, and an honest government—not speeches full of lies and half-truths.

If the Mnangagwa administration continues to rely on deception, the ZiG will follow the same path as the bond notes: straight into the dustbin of failed currency experiments. The only way to restore confidence is through facts, transparency, and serious reform.

Zimbabwe has learned many painful lessons from its past. It’s time the government did too. The people deserve the truth. They deserve policies that are real—not just made-up stories to cover up failure.