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WealthBank, a wholly indigenous company, last month launched an online shopping facility available in Harare and its environs but expected to eventually cover the whole country, using the Tutto platform which is an online shopping service.
Speaking to Herald Business, WealthBank chief executive Mr Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (not the minister) said electronic modes of payment had made inroads into the country hence the establishment of an online shopping service.
“Tutto was established last year on the realisation that internet penetration and electronic payment modes in the country had matured to the point where it was possible to establish an online store.
“We thus dedicated 12 months to observe the interaction of customers with our services after which we launched it commercially to the public this month (October),” he said.
Mr Mumbengegwi also said that their service is online based in the sense that it uses common place internet-based applications such as WhatsApp and Viber to take customer shopping requests whereupon they deliver what the customer requests.
The customer will then pay the receipt value of the items ordered upon delivery at no additional cost through electronic payment methods such as EcoCash, ZimSwitch and Visa or MasterCard.
“This means that anybody with a cellphone can use our services in any language and from any network while to sign up they simply visit an agent or request an account manager to visit you through our Facebook page, WhatsApp, Viber or even via a text message,” he added.
Products that can be purchased on the platform include groceries, over the counter pharmaceuticals, liquor, clothing, cosmetics, newspapers, airtime and insurance. The service is available everyday between 7am and 9pm.
WealthBank emphasises on convenience and real value while its long-term goal is to become every Zimbabwean’s personal shopper while enhancing the common place aspects of the service through add-ons such as discounts and cross-marketing add-ons especially with regards to financial services.
Mr Mumbengegwi said they also sold insurance products on behalf of Zimnat Lion, Eagle Insurance and Fidelity Funeral Assurance while transactions are done via their sister company, Currency Express, which is a financial services intermediation and agency provider.
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