Bishop Christopher Choto, President of the Zimbabwe Christian Ministers Association (ZCMA)
By Dickson Bandera
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), in partnership with the Zimbabwe Christian Ministers Association (ZCMA), last weekend conducted two crucial engagement meetings with church leaders where central bank officials explained and responded to questions related to the Upgraded Big5ZiG Banknote Series.
Zimbabwe introduced the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency in April 2024 as part of broader efforts to stabilise the country’s monetary system. The country is now preparing to introduce upgraded banknotes with additional features, with the rollout scheduled to begin on April 7, 2026.
The meetings formed part of the RBZ’s nationwide awareness campaign aimed at improving public understanding of the currency and strengthening confidence in the monetary system.
President of the Zimbabwe Christian Ministers Association (ZCMA), Bishop Christopher Choto — who also serves as Chairman of Chaplains of Zimbabwe and Convenor of the Zimbabwe Network of Churches — organised the engagement with church leaders, bringing together ministers from various denominations for the interactive sessions.
Director of Banking Supervision, Surveillance and Financial Stability at the RBZ, Mr Philip Madamombe, addressed the church leaders and explored ways in which the faith community can assist in promoting public understanding and confidence in the ZiG currency.
In his presentation, Mr Madamombe clarified that the Upgraded Big5ZiG Banknote Series does not represent the introduction of a new currency, but rather an enhancement of the existing ZiG banknotes through improved features and additional denominations.
The notes and coins will be issued in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 ZiG. Coins in the 2 and 5 ZiG denominations will mainly be used for smaller transactions to improve the availability of change in the market.
Mr Madamombe further explained that the ZiG currency is backed by a basket of reserves comprising gold and foreign currency — a structure designed to strengthen the value of the currency and help curb inflationary pressures. The upgraded banknotes will also carry enhanced security features and distinct designs aimed at preventing counterfeiting and strengthening public confidence in the monetary system.
During the engagements, church leaders pledged to support the central bank’s efforts to educate communities about the upgraded banknotes and the role of the ZiG currency in stabilising the national economy.
Speaking after the meetings, Bishop Choto said churches have a critical role to play in national development and can assist in educating communities about important economic reforms.
“We will continue to promote public awareness and understanding of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency so that citizens are well informed about developments affecting the national economy,” he said.
Bishop Choto said the church remains committed to contributing to national development, social stability and the well-being of citizens.
“The Church occupies a unique and trusted place in society where people gather regularly for spiritual guidance and community support, making it an important platform for sharing credible information,” he said.
“As faith-based institutions serving communities across the country, churches and ministries remain committed to contributing positively to national development, social stability and the well-being of our citizens.”
He said the engagement between the church and the central bank highlighted the importance of ensuring that citizens receive clear and accurate information about the ZiG currency.
“During our engagement, we acknowledged the importance of ensuring that citizens receive clear and accurate information about the ZiG currency as part of broader efforts to promote economic stability and public confidence,” he said.
“The faith sector therefore welcomes collaboration with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s awareness programme by encouraging churches and ministries across the country to allow RBZ officials a few minutes, where possible, to educate congregations about the ZiG currency.”
Bishop Choto said the initiative is meant to improve public understanding of key economic developments affecting the nation.
“This initiative is meant to promote public understanding and ensure that communities are properly informed about developments affecting the national economy.”
He also reaffirmed the church’s commitment to praying for the nation.
“We reaffirm the continued commitment of the Church to pray for the peace, stability and prosperity of Zimbabwe. As Scripture encourages us in Jeremiah 29:7, we are called to seek the welfare of the nation in which we live.”
Churches willing to participate in the programme are encouraged to liaise with the Faith Office so that they can be connected with RBZ teams currently conducting outreach programmes across provinces and districts.
Bishop Choto said unity and collaboration remain key to national progress.
“Together, through unity, prayer and responsible collaboration, we can contribute to building a stable and prosperous Zimbabwe.”
The church has emerged as a strategic partner in information dissemination due to its extensive grassroots reach and the trust it enjoys within communities. Through its networks of congregations and ministries across the country, the church continues to assist the central bank in sharing accurate and credible information with the public.
