Dennis NdlovuBusiness ReporterAmid persistent liquidity challenges, constrained access to formal credit, and rising inflation, a growing number of Zimbabweans are leveraging personal household assets such as refrigerators, beds, and other movable property as collateral to access microloans This trend highlights deepening financial distress and the rising demand for alternative financing solutions as traditional income streams remain under pressure With inflation and unemployment remaining high, financial institutions are focusing more on the working poor by offering asset-backed loans, raising concerns that survival credit could become a new form of predatory lending The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) revealed in its 2025 Mid-Term Monetary Policy statement that some lenders are now providing loans secured by household property The central bank expressed concern about the social risks linked to this trend and called for tighter regulation and enhanced consumer protection As wages stay flat and formal credit remains scarce, many families have no option but to pledge essential household goods just to afford food — highlighting the fragile state of Zimbabwe’s economic recovery and the human toll of financial exclusion Source: ZIM GBC News All Zim News is a central hub for all things Zimbabwean, curating news from across the country so no story is missed Alongside aggregation, our team of nationwide reporters provides real-time, on-the-ground coverage Stay informed and connected — reach us at admin@allzimnews.com.
