By Patience Lunda:
Mobile phone users in Malawi will now be exclusively purchasing airtime and data electronically following the phasing out of physical airtime and data scratch cards Tuesday, December 31 2024.
Scratch cards have been phased out due to the government’s push towards digital financial inclusion, which is promoted in the National Digitalisation Policy.
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) Director General Daud Suleman confirmed the development Tuesday.
“We have not made any changes. Therefore, we will proceed like that,” he said.
On his part, Consumers Association of Malawi Executive Director John Kapito said the move was necessary.
“Everything is going digital in the world,” he said.
Kapito added that there was a need to embrace more digital platforms going forward.
“Times have changed and technology has advanced. The move to go digital on airtime is good because it will also ensure the safety of consumers’ money,” he said.
Efforts to reach both Telekom Networks Malawi Plc and Airtel Malawi plc publicists proved futile yesterday.
But in May 2024, at a press conference that Macra organised, Airtel Malawi plc then-managing director Charles Kamoto, who represented the Association of Telecommunication Operators, assured consumers of the commitment from all operators in the country in ensuring a smooth transition to purchasing airtime and data digitally.
The removal of airtime scratch cards from the market started on May 1 2024.
