Mixed reactions on Gono's RBZ departure

Mixed reactions on Gono's RBZ departure
Published: 05 December 2013
Some Zimbabweans have saluted outgoing Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono for his sterling work during a tough 10-year tenure at the helm of country`s top bank, while others criticized him for taking the country's economy into a free-fall.

In separate interviews with The Herald, some hailed Dr Gono for steering the country through an economic storm that was induced by illegal economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Britain and its allies.

Brighton Mahoya, a sugarcane farmer in Mkwasine, said Gono's "bold action and out-of-the-box thinking" kept the country afloat in the past 10 years as the country went through a rough economic patch.

"Dr Gono did his best when he was in charge of the RBZ as the country suffered numerous problems due to illegal sanctions," he said.

"He worked under very difficult and challenging circumstances and I praise him for leading the country to a period of recovery."

Mahoya said although Gono was criticised harshly by his opponents, he at least managed to roll out programmes that benefited people at a time when the country was facing hostility.

"It's not everyone who benefited from the fire-fighting measures he proffered, but one thing we cannot take away from him is that he at least helped to save the country from total collapse much to the surprise of our aggressors," he said.

Harrison Matsongoni, a South African based economist and former RBZ employee, also poured praise on his former boss.

"Without a person of his calibre during that sad economic period, the economy could not have been what it is today," he said.

"We appreciate the good work and we say farewell to him. He had the courage to steer Zimbabwe through the worst crisis in decades."

Mary Majuru, a graduate, bade farewell to Gono and praised him for his "never die spirit."

"Fare well Dr Gono. He saved the nation when many had lost hope," she said.

However, others felt different and criticised him for putting the country on a free fall resulting in a crisis that was characterised by severe cash shortages, hyper inflation, flight of investors and de-industrialisation.

Gono took over the reins from Leonard Tsumba in November 2003 and was re-appointed in November 2008 for another five-year term.

He presided over an economy which was going through its worst spell on the back of an economic sanctions regime which negatively affected the country's macro-economic fundamentals.
- herald
Tags: Gono, RBZ,

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