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Harare Bureau
ECONET’S Mobile Money service, EcoCash, has struck a landmark agreement with MasterCard set to increase financial inclusion through the provision of electronic payments in Zimbabwe. The collaboration will result in more than three million MasterCard debit cards being issued to mobile money provider EcoCash customers in the next five years.

This is the first time that physical MasterCard debit cards are available to people using mobile money services in Africa, and is the largest rollout of secure EMV Chip and PIN payment cards in Zimbabwe to date.

Speaking at the launch of the MasterCard debit cards, Econet chief executive Douglas Mboweni said the innovation is going to significantly assist in reducing cash dependence among the people of Zimbabwe.

“The adoption of electronic payments is critical to Zimbabwe’s economic development. Reducing dependency on cash while increasing financial inclusion benefits the whole country including the government, industry sectors like tourism and retail, merchants and citizens,” said Mboweni.

Currently 40 percent of Zimbabweans are financially excluded and another 22 percent rely on informal financial products or services.

Mboweni said through Econet’s mobile money products, EcoCash has successfully provided a means for unbanked and under-banked citizens to participate in the formal economy.

This new innovation is set to reduce the demand placed on banks for scarce and costly currency.

For the first time, EcoCash customers will be able to make use of their EcoCash funds in ways previously closed to them.

Mboweni said by obtaining an EcoCash MasterCard debit card, EcoCash customers will be able to withdraw money from MasterCard-licensed ATMs and pay for goods and services at millions of merchants that accept MasterCard payment cards, both in Zimbabwe and outside.

EcoCash chief executive Cuthbert Tembedza said the integration of these products and services is particularly exciting for EcoCash customers.

“We look forward to offering Zimbabweans ways to benefit from the security and convenience of electronic payments as they engage with, and contribute to, the formal economy,” said Tembedza.

Over 85 percent of retail payments globally are still carried out using cash or cheque, with the percentage being much higher in Africa.

As a payment option, cash takes time to get, is riskier to carry, and cash costs society as much as 1.5 percent  of GDP, depending on the country.

Tembedza said it is for these reasons that governments are now driving the conversion from cash to electronic payments as they begin to realise the benefits of a cashless society. A cashless society enhances increased transparency, cost effectiveness, financial inclusion, foreign investment and economic growth.

MasterCard vice president and area business head, Southern Africa Charlton Goredema said the EcoCash MasterCard debit card is a milestone towards realising MasterCard’s vision of a cashless society.

“Demonstrating the value of close collaboration in the financial services and payments technology industries, EcoCash and MasterCard have devised an innovative payment product that addresses Zimbabwe’s market realities, particularly by acknowledging the impact mobile money has on the country’s economy.

“As EcoCash enables its customers to benefit from MasterCard’s global payments network, we are assisting Zimbabwe to integrate its economy with those elsewhere in the world. We are also contributing to the financial freedom of individuals,” says Goredema.