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The Government has announced the phasing out of airtime scratch cards on the Zambian market by June 2023, which will facilitate for direct top-ups using electronic platforms.
Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati said on Tuesday that about 60 percent of the Zambian population was currently using digital platforms to recharge their mobile phones.
Mutati said this clearly demonstrate that Zambians were becoming financially included from as seen from the statistics of the citizens using digital platforms.
He said the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) namely Airtel Networks Zambia Plc, MTN Zambia and Zamtel would begin to implement the phasing out of the use of airtime scratch cards on the market.
Mutati stated that the move to eliminate the use of scratch cards on the Zambian market would result into savings for the end users, the customers and the MNOs.
He said the customers would not have to spend much of their time scratching cards but can utilise the digital platforms to recharge their phones with airtime.
Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati. Picture by Sam Phiri
Mutati also said the recharge platforms also contribute to the reduction of fraud and illicit activities and make it easier for Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to collect taxes as it becomes easier to determine the actual airtime sold by MNOs.
He said the digitalised distribution channels also reduce the costs incurred by MNOs to produce and distribute airtime starch cards throughout the country, create employment for the youths and contribute to the acceleration of financial inclusion through the use of electronic modes of payment.
“The initiatives are being driven by the Ministry in its Strategic Plan, as it is evident that this is one of the ways the Government can improve the access to and efficacy of digital technologies.
“The Zambian people will continue to recharge their phones through the use of electronic modes of recharge as most customers are already using electronic airtime recharge platforms to recharge their phones,” Mutati said.
He said the important benefit of eliminating airtime scratch cards include, but are not limited to, environmental protection.
“It is a well-known fact that the airtime scratch cards have immensely contributed to creating litter which has negatively affected our environment as these scratch cards are not biodegradable,” Mutati said.
Speaking earlier, Bart Hofker, the Global System for Mobile Association of Zambia (GSMAZ) chairperson, said the electronic methods of purchasing airtime have coexisted with physical scratch cards for a long time, therefore the move towards full usage of electronic methods was not new.
“The use of electronic methods is a direct top up which is quick, safe and easy since the agent sends the top up value directly to the phone and the customers will not have to type the 12 digit numbers anymore,” he said.
Hofker is also MTN Zambia chief executive officer said the phasing out of scratch cards would reduce litter in the environment and the MNOs would be able to go green.
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