The Sunday News
Munyaradzi Musiiwa, Midlands Correspondent
MOBLE telephone operator, Telecel through its mobile money transfer unit Telecash, has announced a reduction in tariffs on mobile financial transactions as part of promoting the use of plastic money.
This is in line with recent efforts by the Government and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to encourage the use of electronic payments, mobile and plastic money to help ease the current cash shortage and improve financial inclusion.
The company said the new tariffs were across Telecash’s entire range of services and payment options, including cash-outs.
The most notable and significant changes are the reduction of Telecash’s Gold debit card charges from a maximum of $2,95 down to $0,45 while transactions of less than $2 are now free. Bill payments have also been reduced from a maximum of $3,70 down to $1,50 with bill payments of under $5 being free of charge.
“Our decision to lower Telecash tariffs is in response to the need to encourage and make more affordable the use of electronic and plastic money in line with the Government’s efforts to ease the current cash crisis,” explained Mrs Violet Masunda, Telecel’s acting head of Mobile Financial Services.
“The reduction of Telecash tariffs will also improve financial inclusion as disadvantaged and low-income segments of our customer base will find mobile banking more affordable and attractive.”
Telecash was already offering the lowest mobile financial services charges prior to these further reductions in their tariffs.
The Government has been encouraging the use of electronic, mobile and plastic money to ease the on-going cash shortage that has seen banks being forced to lower daily withdrawals limits.
