Mobile money reaches P26bn
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 | 3400 Views |
In the lead: Orange Money remains the country's most popular mobile money service, but it's dominance is declining PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Data made available by the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) shows that mobile money subscriptions reached 1.69 million as at March 2023, from 1.66 million in March 2022 and 1.15 million in March 2019.
Orange, whose Orange Money product has traditionally enjoyed the lion’s share of the market, slipped in dominance in the year to March 2023, with a 49% market share, from 59% in the year to March 2022. Mascom, which has the MyZaka product, grew its market share over the same period to 38% from 36%, while BTC’s Smega moved from a nine percent market share to 11%. Botswana Post’s mobile money product remained at two percent market share over the same period.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...