Harare – Mobile money companies in Zimbabwe are no-longer
accepting dollar payments for pay television platform, DsTV while some banks
are also now restricting payments for the service.
This comes as Zimbabwe has started to tighten the screws
on “excessive” spending and use of scarce foreign currency. The country has
introduced local bond notes after bank notes started to run out.
Following stinging criticism on banks by the reserve
bank, finance institutions have now started to limit payments for DsTV. Telecel
Zimbabwe announced on Monday that it will stop accepting payments for DsTV
using its Telecash mobile money platform.
“Due to factors beyond our control, DsTV payments on
Telecash will cease on February 28 till further notice. All other services
remain available,” Telecel Zimbabwe said in a text message to subscribers.
Rival operator Econet Wireless has also moved to stop dollar
payments for DsTV in Zimbabwe.
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However, it has switched on an alternative platform that
allows DsTV subscribers to pay for views using a rand account on the EcoCash
platform, with users having to convert their funds into rands first.
Some banks in Zimbabwe are no longer accepting credit
card payments for DsTV for non-account holders. Zimbabwe is battling acute
foreign currency shortages and the central bank is asking banks to allow pay
outs to depositors using a strict priority list.
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