Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
NetOne’s newly launched reverse calling service, Pay for Me, is fast gaining traction, allowing subscribers to make calls even when they have zero airtime, with the recipient meeting the call charges, company officials have said.
The service, which was launched in December 2025, enables a caller without airtime to initiate a call that the recipient may choose to accept and pay for at standard voice tariffs.
Briefing journalists, NetOne regional manager for Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South (Commercial), Ms Gugu Mpofu said the operator was the first mobile network in Zimbabwe to introduce the service.
Ms Mpofu said NetOne’s objective was to support uninterrupted communication, particularly during urgent situations such as family emergencies, job-related opportunities and other time-sensitive matters.
“We do not want people to be disconnected in times of difficulty,” she said.
To place a reverse call, users simply prefix the recipient’s number with the shortcode 164 (for example, 164712xxxxxx). Once the request is sent, the recipient is prompted to either accept or decline the call.
If the call is accepted, the recipient incurs the charges, while if it is declined, the call is disconnected at no cost to either party.
NetOne said the service is designed to be simple and transparent, with no hidden fees. The recipient must have a positive balance in their main account, and charges are not deducted from data or voice bundles.
The Pay for Me service is aimed at ensuring that no subscriber is left disconnected, particularly during emergencies or other critical situations.
According to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) third-quarter 2025 report, NetOne’s subscriber base grew by 1.90 percent to 4,062,894, up from 3,987,105 in the second quarter, while voice traffic increased to 617,857,214 minutes from 521,361,797 in the previous quarter.
