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Kudzai Chikiwa, Chronicle Reporter
SOME Bulawayo residents are failing to access health services at local council clinics as they demand payment through cash and swipe only and reject EcoCash and other mobile money solutions.
Residents said most of them use EcoCash since they do not own bank cards and cash is scarce.
Clinics are primary healthcare facilities and offer the most affordable services to residents.
Zimbabwe has been battling cash shortages which have resulted in a surge in plastic and mobile money usage. EcoCash has become the most popular form of payment as the majority of unemployed people do not own bank cards. Telecash and OneMoney are the other mobile money platforms used.
Mr Terrence Ngole from Pumula South suburb slammed the idea of making residents go and pay at council’s revenue hall in the city centre where EcoCash services are available.
“Going to the municipal revenue offices is a blunder on its own because imagine you are critically ill and you are forced to travel from Pumula South to the offices where you can find long queues. You spend a dollar on kombi fare to pay the $5 consultation fee,’’ he said.
A disgruntled resident from Gwabalanda suburb recalled how her sick daughter went home unattended after she could not pay at the reception.
“Last week l went to Luveve Clinic with my daughter who had a fever. They told me that they do not take EcoCash and l walked home with my sick child unattended.
“Imagine if you have a critically ill relative, can she die in your hands just because you do not have a bank card or some cash to pay?’’ she asked.
Residents suggested that the city council adopt EcoCash payment at its clinics as it does for other services.
Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said solutions to the inconvenience are underway.
She said patients are able to make these payments at Municipal Revenue Offices, where machines for mobile money are available.
“The City of Bulawayo has various payment methods for the various services of which mobile money platforms such as EcoCash are used. However, the clinics had not yet been installed with the gadgets. Procurement process for EcoCash gadgets is already underway and an order has been placed with the supplier,’’ said Mrs Mpofu, without giving a time frame.—@tamary98
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