By Mercy Botha

Mzimba, Novermber 13, Mana: People in Mzimba have asked the government to consider subsidizing the cost of mobile phones so that they can adopt the digital financial services the government is promoting in the country.

The Reserve Bank of Malawi and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs have embarked on an awareness campaign across the country whereby they are wooing communities to adopt the digital financial services.

In an interview on the sidelines of one of such awareness meetings in Mzimba on Tuesday, Florence Phiri from Kanjuchi Village Traditional Authority Mabulabo, in Mzimba, said she is willing to adopt the initiative but does not have access to a mobile phone.

“We welcome the digital financial services initiative due to the benefits they provide such as keeping money secure and convenience of paying bills in the comfort of your home, but it’s not all of us who have phones because phones are too expensive for us’’, she said

 “We urge the government to provide subsidized phones for us in rural communities so that we also benefit from this program,” said Phiri.

Monica Luhana of Khosolo also said introducing cheap phones will go a long way in facilitating the adaptation of digital financial services as she said phones are the thing in modern years.

Speaking during one of the Digital Financial Services campaign meetings in Khosolo, Patrick Chimowa expressed the same concern of lack of access to mobile phones as one barrier to adopting digital financial services.

“We are looking forward to cheap phones also known as ‘Mose walero’ if possible, in order to adopt to digital financial services. We believe that subsidized phones will enable us to manage our finances efficiently, receive payments, and access vital services that may come along with the initiative,” said Chimowa.

Team leader for Digital financial services in Mzimba, Shazel Lambat, assured the community members that their concerns would be forwarded to the relevant authorities.

“We have heard the people’s concerns and will forward them to the government as it is committed to promoting financial inclusion and economic empowerment,” said Lambat.