City of Harare embraces digital payments options as cash shortages worsen

As cash shortages continue to disrupt service delivery in Zimbabwe some providers that handle a lot of transactions are making arrangements to handle the crisis.

The latest to do so has been the City of Harare. After announcing plans to introduce swiping facilities the municipality has now introduced the bank card facilities in its banking halls.

Residents can now make payments using Zimswitch facilities as well as credit and debit card alternatives like Visa and Mastercard. The city also entered into an electronic bill payment arrangement with the country’s largest retail bank CBZ.

The Harare municipality has in the past introduced mobile money payment channels for EcoCash and Telecash the two leading mobile money services in the country.

All these services are significantly easing the burden of utilities’ payments as the local financial sector grapples with dwindling supplies of hard cash. Hopefully, other “cash-only providers” like the police department will do the same for spot fines.