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Africa Live this week: 29 April - 5 May 2024 - BBC News Africa Live: Kenya cabinet meets as flood death toll nears 170 - BBC News
(32 minutes later)
Shingai Nyoka
BBC News, Harare
Kenya's President William Ruto has called for a special cabinet meeting to discuss the ongoing flooding crisis in the country. Zimbabweans will start using new banknotes and coins on Tuesday after all banks collected the local currency from the central bank for distribution across the country.
About 169 people have been killed so far in floods that have devastated parts of Kenya in the last month, the government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said. The highest denomination of Zimbabwe Gold or ZiG available is the 200 ZiG note worth about $15.
The number includes 45 people who died after their villages were swept away near Mai Mahiu, about 60km (37 miles) from the capital, Nairobi. The Kenya Red Cross put the death toll at 50. Individuals will be allowed to withdraw only ZiG 3,000 and companies ZiG 30,000 per week, authorities said.
In an interview with the BBC on Monday, President Ruto defended his government's flood response following criticism from county governments that it was slow. There are no limits of cash withdrawals for parliament, courts and international organisations, local media reported.
Mr Ruto said the cabinet meeting on Tuesday would discuss additional measures on flood mitigation. The introduction of the currency early this month is the latest attempt to control soaring inflation in the country.
Asked if there are immediate plans to declare the flooding a national disaster, President Ruto said the urgent thing was to provide the required resources to the affected areas. But there are signs the currency is already facing problems.
The government has delayed the opening of schools across the country with more rain expected, according to forecasters. A digital version has lost a quarter of its value against the US dollar on the black market.
More than 130,000 people have been displaced by the floods, with many people taking shelter in schools. It is Zimbabwe's third currency in a decade.
The ZiG is backed by gold and foreign currency reserves to help maintain its value, the central bank said.
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