By A Correspondent- MDC secretary for economic affairs, Tapiwa Mashakada has said as long as the State was involved in the illegal market, the vice would continue unabated.

Said Mashakada:

“Under normal circumstances banks and bureaux de change sell or buy forex on a willing-buyer, willing-seller basis, provided the forex is available. In the case of Zim, the official forex market (interbank market) is dry, hence buyers and sellers go to the parallel market, where they can get forex.

“It is alleged that government is the main driver of the parallel market because questions are raised when new bond notes are traded on the black market. It is illegal, but in this case, it is the only reliable source of forex. No country has managed to completely eliminate the parallel market. It can only be minimised.”

The Zanu PF youth league last month named senior Zanu PF officials and some top government officials, who they said were involved in illegal forex deals, including the son of Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa, Neville.

Mnangagwa promised to set up a commission of inquiry to probe the allegations. But the commission is yet to be set up.-Newsday