Mascom's Myzaka 'rings' in Francistown

PATRICIA MAGANU-EDWIN
Staff Writer | Monday July 11, 2011 00:00

 

Mascom Chief Operations Officer Ricardo Luz said that though he could not reveal the real numbers, in the first few weeks the MyZaka service hit 10, 000 users.  The service started operating in April.

'I do not have the exact figures now, but in the first couple of weeks we hit 10, 000 users, which proves that the service is progressing well.  The numbers will grow and, in our opinion, it will spread because it facilitates everyone's life and what one can do with a mobile phone,' he said.

Luz said that the MyZaka service was a motive of pride for Mascom and that the service had everything to do with the convenience of having a cell phone, adding that the company was excited at being the pioneers of such a service.  'We are excited to deliver this service and the first and the only mobile company,' he said.  MyZaka is a service that allows registered and non-registered users to send and receive money, pay bills, buy airtime and many others. Mascom is doing so with the help of Barclays Bank, as it is not a banking institution, and Choppies as their first authorised dealer.

Luz explained that Mascom's objective with this new service was a continued drive to innovate, meet the needs of the customer, develop other revenue streams - other than voice - and to contribute towards the growth of Botswana beyond telecom.

He further highlighted that other markets that had the service running successfully were at the top of the list in Kenya with M-Pesa and also Rwanda and Uganda.

'M-Pesa in Kenya is the most successful business case with about 10 million customers.  Several other markets are also running the service with Uganda and Rwanda notably successful and more recently South Africa,' he stated.  The service was suitable for both banking and non-banking customers, Luz added.