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Author: Albert Nangara
- USSD is used extensively across Africa to enable mobile banking and mobile payments
- Despite its widespread use, USSD has significant limitations. The menus can be cumbersome and difficult to navigate, transactions are susceptible to interception and lack robust encryption.
- WhatsApp chatbots represent a promising alternative to USSD in Africa’s digital financial services sector by offering a more user-friendly, secure, and cost-effective solution.
Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) have been quoted as a catalyst for financial inclusion in Africa for over a decade now. However, with the advent of new technologies and platforms, the use of USSD has been largely overshadowed by more advanced forms of mobile banking. The integration of banking services through WhatsApp has the potential to revolutionize the way we manage our finances. With its wide reach and user-friendly interface, WhatsApp can quickly become the go-to channel for customers to access their banking services.
USSD was introduced in …
- Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion has unveiled a significant policy shift regarding the levy on sugar content in beverages.
- This measure is scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2024, to discourage the consumption of high-sugar beverages.
- While introducing the sugar content levy is presented as a measure to address health concerns, its impact on consumers, beverage industries, and the healthcare sector remains uncertain.
The 2024 National Budget Speech, presented to the Parliament of Zimbabwe by Prof. Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, has unveiled a significant policy shift regarding the taxation of sugar content in beverages.
Citing global concerns about the health implications of high sugar consumption, especially in beverages, Minister Ncube acknowledged the worldwide trend of implementing sugar taxes, including in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The proposed policy change is driven by the adverse health effects …
- The government has announced a reduction in interest rates on student loans in Zambia from 15 per cent to 10 per cent, effective January 2024.
- The cost of pursuing higher education can be a significant financial burden for many students and their families.
- In Zambia, there are several options. Universities are offering student loans to fund education, and one of the most common methods is through student loans.
In a significant move aimed at easing the financial burden on students, the Zambian government has announced a reduction in interest rates on student loans from 15 per cent to 10 per cent, effective January 2024. The announcement was made by Douglas Syakalima, Zambia’s Minister of Education, during a media briefing held on Monday, November 27, 2023, at his office.
The decision to lower the interest rates comes after extensive consultations between the government, facilitated through the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship …
The latest data from the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZAMSTATS) has placed Switzerland as the dominant force in Zambia’s export market. Switzerland accounted for a staggering 45.9 per cent of Zambia’s export earnings for September 2023.
ZAMSTATS’ October monthly bulletin reveals Switzerland’s dominant position as Zambia’s primary export destination. This is primarily driven by the export of copper anodes for electrolytic refining. Copper exports constitute a significant 73.4 per cent of total export earnings.…
- Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, a Telecommunications company founded by Strive Masiyiwa, has introduced the country’s first eSIM service.
- eSIM is a digital SIM card embedded in smartphones, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card and allowing users to have multiple phone numbers on one device.
- Econet’s adoption of eSIM technology aligns with global trends and promises to bring numerous benefits to both consumers and the company itself.
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, one of the country’s leading telecommunications companies, has taken a bold step by introducing the country’s first eSIM service. This innovative technology, known as eSIM (Embedded Subscriber Identification Module), is a digital SIM card that is embedded in smartphones, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card.
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe’s introduction of eSIM technology is not merely a technological advancement but a strategic move to provide its customers with a better, more flexible, and sustainable communication experience.