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Business Reporter
THE country’s largest telecommunication firm, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, has announced a partnership with Total Zimbabwe, which enables customers to use EcoCash to pay for fuel and other services at service stations across the country.
Mr Douglas Mboweni, the chief executive of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, announced the partnership on Wednesday as a strategy to promote the use of EcoCash as a preferred method of payment in light of the current cash crisis.
EcoCash is leading the adoption of a cashless society in Zimbabwe so that people do not have to carry cash or use it to pay for goods and services, said Mr Mboweni.
He said the partnership with Total is one of several that EcoCash has or is negotiating with local companies who also see the benefit of using EcoCash. The development comes barely a month after EcoCash removed all transaction fees on merchant payments to subscribers, in a drive towards accelerating the adoption of cashless payments through the mobile wallet.
It is the first time in Zimbabwe that merchant payments have been zero-rated.
“Although, EcoCash has also been affected by the general cash shortages locally, the challenges provide clear benefits of switching to mobile and card-based transactions,” said Mr Mboweni.
“Through our competitive advantage in innovation and readily available infrastructure, EcoCash is well poised to respond to the cash challenges and we’re seeing a rise in electronic payments. “As a result we’re actively promoting the use of EcoCash wallet and cards for purchases through strategic partnerships. Total Zimbabwe is the latest addition to the suite of partnerships, which will continue to grow.”
Econet general manager for EcoCash Mrs Natalie Jabangwe-Morris said: “The cash crisis has once again demonstrated the importance of EcoCash as the increasingly preferred mode of payment for goods and services in Zimbabwe.
“In view of the recent developments, we’ve embarked on a free merchant payments campaign to raise further awareness in the market of why EcoCash will remain the viable primary payment option during this cash crunch and the future ahead.
“In partnering with Total Zimbabwe, EcoCash is playing its role to complement national efforts to ease the cash crisis,” she said.
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