Econet Wireless through its mobile money transfer platform, EcoCash has partnered with the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (ZINARA) to introduce a service where motorists can prepay toll fees using the EcoCash facility.
By Jeoffrey Ncube
Speaking at the official launch of the partnership in Harare on Thursday, Ecocash Chief Executive Officer, Natalie Jabangwe said the service will allow people to make an electronic toll payment using a mobile application.
“We are here this morning to unveil another first a global sort of innovation were for the first time in Zimbabwe a mobile money wallet will allow you to make an electronic payment through your tollgate using your mobile application and also from the comfort of your home 24/7 pre paying and then simply going express on a toll gate,” she said.
Jabangwe said motorists will be able to link their vehicles to EcoCash.
ZINARA Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Nancy Masiiwa Chamisa said the partnership with Ecocash is important as it will create seamless mechanism for Zimbabweans to easily transact while on the road.
“This is an important intervention on our ZINARA platforms whereby will create a seamless mechanism for Zimbabweans to easily transact and thereby transverse our country’s road infrastructure.
“In 2016, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya directed keys parastatals, ZINARA in particular to promote and adoption of various virtual money platforms and this is what we are doing,” said.
The service can be accessed through the Ecocash USSD, *151# and allows motorists to register their vehicle to their Ecocash wallet.
According to Jabangwe, when a motorist gets to a tollgate, they should inform the cashier of their intention to pay using EcoCash and provide their mobile number.
“Because you have already preloaded, immediately the funds are automatically deducted from the customer’s EcoCash and the customer will receive an sms that a transaction has been made,” she said.
The service will be available 17 tollgates accross the country namely 22 Miles, Chivi, Dema, Esigodini, Eskbank, Hwange, Inkomo, Lions Den, Lutumba, Mashava, Mushagashi, Naude Quarry site, Shamva, Shurugwi, Sino, Skyline and Umguza.
