Zimbabwe wants digital payments to build trust in its newest currency. Why technology alone won’t be enough to save the ZiG
Zimbabwe is exploring an Indian-developed digital payment system to improve the usability of its gold-backed currency, the ZiG. However, experts argue that technological infrastructure alone cannot solve the underlying lack of public trust in the currency.
Why it matters
The success of the ZiG is critical for Zimbabwe's economic stability and its ability to manage inflation alongside the US dollar.
New ZiG banknotes, 2024. Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua via Getty Images Zimbabwe wants digital payments to build trust in its newest currency. Why technology alone won’t be enough to save the ZiG Published: October 25, 2026 6.10am GMT https://theconversation.com/zimbabwe-wants-digital-payments-to-build-trust-in-its-newest-currency-why-technology-alone-wont-be-enough-to-save-the-zig-294769 https://theconversation.com/zimbabwe-wants-digital-payments-to-build-trust-in-its-newest-currency-why-technology-alone-wont-be-enough-to-save-the-zig-294769 Link copied Share article Share article
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Zimbabwe’s central bank wants people to use the ZiG, a gold-backed local currency launched in April 2024 , alongside the US dollar. A proposed real-time payment system based on Indian technology could help make the ZiG easier and cheaper to use.
But digital payments will strengthen the currency only if people have good reasons to trust it.
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