Zimbabwe’s Econet Curbs Mobile-Money Transactions on Regulator’s Order
Zimbabwe’s Econet Curbs Mobile-Money Transactions on Regulator’s Order
Econet Wireless Ltd. is imposing restrictions that limit the size and range of transactions on its mobile-money platform to comply with an order from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
The central bank is seeking to curb foreign-exchange trading in the black market that it blames for weakening the local currency. The government has accused Econet’s mobile-money unit, EcoCash, which accounts for 98% of commerce in the country, of facilitating such dealings, which it has denied.
EcoCash has limited daily transactions to Z$5,000 ($60) for individuals, restricted its wallet service to one per customer and abolished agent lines, which previously could process large transactions, the company said in a statement. Ecocash has 50,000 agents in its network across the country.
The central bank has extended an Aug. 15 deadline for all mobile-network operators to process their mobile-money operations through ZimSwitch, a national payments system owned by state and private shareholders, to Sept. 30.
Telecash, operated by state-owned Telecel Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd., and NetOne Cellular Pvt Ltd.’s OneMoney have already transfered their mobile-money transactions onto ZimSwitch, Zabron Chilakalaka, the deputy chief executive officer at ZimSwitch, said in a text message on Wednesday.
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