Starlink Guide for Zimbabweans
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  • E-commerce needs a payment API

    Lately, there has been a lot of noise over how classified sites could lead to a boom in e-commerce,yet online peer-to-peer marketplaces (classifieds) do not quite qualify as electronic commerce. […]

  • ZB Bank already retailing ZESA using mobile app (update)

    As it turns out, in addition to the Nettcash app, the ZB Mobile App also offers agents a platform to sell ZESA prepaid tokens from their mobile phones. The functionality of the App, however, is clouded by the availability of POS which are probably prioritised for their physical receipts.

  • RBZ financial inclusion ultimatum a wake up call for local banks

    Banks have been given an ultimatum by the RBZ to submit financial inclusion plans within the next four months, a late development considering that banks have laid back while Ecocash and Telecash established a presence in the market.

  • How can we help Zimbabwean e-commerce, the black sheep in our family?

    How do we help e-commerce, the backbencher of the Zimbabwean tech revolution find its mojo? After all, it should have disrupted the status quo by now, considering how it solves two problems, something which represent a unique selling point.

  • WorldRemit & Econet partnership introduces mobile money remittances to Burundi

    WorldRemit, the online money transfer service which has been tapping into mobile money services, recently announced the introduction of Instant Mobile Money transfers to Burundi through a partnership with Econet Burundi.

  • With all these job cuts, a credit rating system is now more critical than before

    With the current developments in labour where perpetual employment has been virtually terminated, credit rating systems will become crucial in providing benchmarks through which companies offering products on credit can reference credit worthiness.

  • RBZ Mid-Term Monetary Policy shows a slowed growth in mobile money

    There is a slowed growth in Mobile Money according to the RBZ’s Mid Term Monetary Policy Statement. This is probably a result of the turbulence in both the banking and telecoms sectors.

  • Nettcash’s the only privately owned mobile money service selling ZESA. How did it pull it off?

    The sale of prepaid electricity has been opened up to Nettcash, the youngest mobile money service which has no visible ties to the government. Just how did Nettcash pull this off when other operators like EcoCash and Telecash are being excluded?

  • New Mukuru-Mkesh partnership enables South Africa to Mozambique remittances

    Through a partnership with Mkesh, the mobile money service owned by Mozambican mobile operator Mcel, Mukuru users in South Africa can now send money straight into a Mkesh wallet.

  • Powertel refutes insolvency, points to strong cashflow & unique advantages

    Powertel is saying that it’s not insolvent. In a press release, it is highlighting its significant growth over a period of more than 15 years, referencing investments in telecoms infrastructure, voice services, internet and prepaid electricity aggregation where most of its cashflow seems to be coming from.

  • Nettcash continues on the offensive with introduction of DStv payments

    In a bid to catch up with competition and lock steady revenue streams, Nettcash has unveiled the DStv payments facility through its mobile app which was recently launched and made available for download on Google Play.

  • Nettcash cries foul over mobile money agents, accuses other operators of nudging them out

    Nettcash has complained that other mobile money operators are muscling Nettcash out of the agency network and going to the extent of taking over some agents and stripping their signage from the kiosks and premises.

  • Our problem is we don’t stand together. We don’t speak together

    As a people we don’t seem to see far enough to realise what is hurting the competition now (or just someone we don’t care about) will surely hurt us too eventually. We laugh that classifieds.co.zw is getting hit Econet and Stive while forgetting the same net-neutrality unfairness on us when they smell the blood.

  • These are the winners at Zimbabwe’s Mobile & Digital Payments Awards

    A whole day of discussions around digital and mobile payments that brought together banks and mobile network operators, was concluded with the Awards Ceremony that recognised the best performing companies and products.

  • Econet still uninterested in interoperability (updated)

    It seems Econet, banking on its market share and business interests, is still unwilling to enable interoperability in some aspects of their services, particularly hand to hand wallet to wallet interfacing. This is unlike the competitors OneWallet, Telecash and Nettcash.

  • Econet’s EcoSure introduces burial society package

    Econet has launched the EcoSure Burial Society. It’s a funeral package that facilitates group contributions for funeral policies. EcoSure is riding on the old concept of burial societies where groups of friends, relatives, church members or workmates contribute towards a fund that will assist each member in the event of a funeral.

  • tengai.co.zw goes live, offers free signups & free browsing for Econet subscribers

    Zimbabwe’s new online classifieds platform, tengai.co.zw has finally gone live. It offers the standard functionality of online classified platforms and users can post listings, for free, in any of the 12 different categories that include mobile and electronics, vehicles, property, jobs and services.

  • Want to shop on Facebook? That could be happening sooner than you think

    Facebook is testing a “Buy” button that would allow users to shop on Facebook. This puts it in direct competition with e-commerce platforms.

  • Mambo Press goes online with virtual shop but…

    Mambo has adapted to the power of the internet to move volumes on their publication by launching a virtual shop online via pazimba.com. This is a noble move, but they definitely need to do more if they are to upset and guard against piracy.

  • Online funeral coordination platform Funeral.ly launched

    funeral.ly is a Zimbabwean online event management platform that allows one to manage a funeral it was recently launched online. It capitalises on the internet to provide a centralized method for disseminating information and coordinating funerals among family members, friends and colleagues

  • Nettcash has something new lined up, what else should the money service fix?

    Nettcash, the mobile money service, is set to launch a new product that will enhance its list of services and improve its current platform. We are not sure what the new product is, but there are some aspects of its current offering that it should consider improving on.

  • What can we expect at Zimbabwe’s 1st Mobile Money & Digital Payments Awards?

    The Mobile Money and Digital Payments Conference, an awards ceremony that seeks to recognise and honour outstanding performance and innovation in mobile money and digital payments will be held on the 27th of July in Harare

  • Innovation Baraza records a huge turnout, 5 teams of innovators selected

    Out of 40 teams that spent the whole day showcasing their work to the judges and the rest of the crowd at Innovation Baraza, 5 teams, from a shortlist of 10 were selected. These teams will undergo mentorship and an incubation process for the next two months as they prepare to present their ideas at…

  • Telecash remains defiant in the face of competition

    Telecash may have faced a seasonal drawback in the Telecel versus government tiff early this year but they look set to grow stronger with the right formula. Recording 1 million subscribers from launch last year in January, they can easily reach the same user ratios as Ecocash.

  • Liquid Telecom assures its staff that unlike Econet, it’s not cutting salaries

    Liquid Telecom management has assured its staff that contrary to reports in the media, it will not be reducing the salaries of its staff as is happening at its sister company Econet Wireless Zimbabwe. Liquid Telecom has emphasized its independence in operation, citing reasons such as prudent spending and cost management as reasons for surviving…

  • Econet reduces salaries; shows how tough the Zim telecoms environment is

    Econet has reduced the salaries of its entire staff by 35%. This has been attributed to a lot of challenges in the local business environment, and the other complications in Zimbabwean telecoms. The operator will have to do a lot to improve its performance and beat all of this.

  • What’s the latest on Zimbabwean e-commerce? Check out these 12 e-platforms

    If you thought we don’t have any attempts at online trading and commerce in Zimbabwe, think again. Take a look at these 12 platforms that have been around for a while. Some very big companies like Food World have setup online shops with a variety of payments options you could find anywhere across the world.

  • Whatever happened to Astro Payit anyway?

    The Astro brand is constantly aiming to define its name when it comes to local innovation. The team there has conceptualised some cutting edge solutions in tech, but sadly others have failed to go market. Hre’a a look at Payit and possible reasons it failed.

  • Econet Services launches Dial-a-Mudhumeni under the EcoFarmer brand

    Econet’s EcoFarmer VAS service has introduced a new platform called Dial-a-Mudhumeni. This offers information from agricultural experts via phone. By dialing 144, farmers can get help on livestock, tobacco and agricultural market information. the service costs 30 cents a minute.

  • Econet to disconnect millions of subscribers in the next 7 days

    Econet has given subscribers with lines that haven’t been used in 6 months, up to one week to recharge these lines. Failure to do so will result in disconnection. There is a lot the operator will benefit from by doing this, largely because of an inactive subscriber total of 3 million. However, there are going…