MTN Mobile Money subscribers hit 4.5 m

HELEN ZULU writes@SunZambianMTN Zambia has marked 4.5 million subscribers on its MTN Mobile Money platform due to increased demand for mobile service transactions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.MTN Mobile Money Managing Director, Komba Malukutila said the increase in subscribers on the mobile money platform from three million in January this year to 4.5 million had been made possible by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.Mr Mulukutila said the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had accelerated the growth of the digital service world over.He was speaking during a breakfast meeting in Lusaka yesterday.“There is no way we could have reached 4.5 million subscribers without the pandemic, I think in a way, the pandemic worldwide has accelerated digital growth services because it came at a time when one of the answers that was there for the customers was to go cashless, as cash was one of the spreader of the pandemic, ” Mr Mulukutila said.He said the service provider was committed to ensuring that every Zambian has access to secure, convenient and affordable financial services.Mr Mulukutila said in appreciation of the support that the customers had rendered MTN mobile money, the company was , commemorating November 2020 as MOMO month to celebrate its customers.He said during this month, the company woud embark on a number of activities to demonstrate its gratitude to customers and other stakeholders.“This day marks yet another significant milestone in our effort to have all Zambians financially included using our mobile money services as we have achieved over 4.5 million customers on the Momo network,” Mr Mulukutila said.He said MTN Mobile Money services go a long way in alleviating financial inclusion for the under-served population and spearhead digital transformation in the country.Mr Mulukutila said the COVID-19 pandemic had shaken the whole world hence the realization by most business organisations to adopt the full use of MTN mobile money services and encourage working from home in order to safeguard the lives of Zambians.He said the desire of MTN Zambia was to see to it that these products and services it was providing were changing people’s lives and enable all Zambians to the benefits of a modern connected life.And MTN chief executive officer Bart Hofker said the major benefits of using MTN mobile money was that it was quick, safe and it can be used anywhere.He said it was safer to use mobile money platforms as it was safe during this time of COVID-19 pandemic and was able to give financial independence and inclusion.“What we are doing is supporting Zambia’s vision to reach the goal of a cashless economy and financial inclusion.“There are 50,000 sales points of mobile money and 17,000 merchants selling mobile money everyday, we are taking this seriously, ” he said. The Sun