By Promise Banda

Chiradzulu, February 2, Mana: Field Supervisor for Digital Financial Services (DFS), Esther Kambalame has urged communities in Chiradzulu District to embrace digital financial services as they are more secure and reliable.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency on Monday, during DFS awareness campaign currently underway in the district, Kambalame said digital financial services offer many benefits as compared to handling hard cash.

"DFS provides a fast, convenient, and secure way to send, receive, and manage money anytime, anywhere. They ensure instant payments, are cost-effective, and promote accountability and transparency in transactions," said Kambalame.

She said that this was the reason the organization decided to encourage people in rural areas to conduct their businesses digitally and engaging Village Savings and Loan groups to keep their money digitally instead of the wooden boxes where it is not safe and does not grow.

"For example, we are also encouraging them to open bank accounts where they can get an interest on the money they have saved unlike the boxed; if they keep K10,000 they will find the same K10,000," said Kambalame.

Chiradzulu District Council Acting District Community Development Officer, Lovemore Kachala hailed DFS for conducting the awareness campaign, saying will improve financial transactions in Chiradzulu by making them faster, safer, and more transparent.

"It will also enhance security, efficiency, and convenience for individuals and VSL groups in managing their savings," he added.

Margaret Bito of Jekete Village in Traditional Authority Mpama, supported the idea of using DFS because it has helped her in keeping her business funds safe.

“These services such as Airtel money and TNM mpamba help me to keep my money safe from thieves when I’m going to restock my goods since I no longer need to carry huge amount of cash around,” she said.

Another community member from the same area, Mustafa John concurred with Bito, saying that the use of digital financial services has made things easy for him in terms of accessing money.

“I no longer need to be worried about accessing money due to long distances since most Airtel money and Mpamba agents are readily available all the time,” he said.

DFS, with funding from the Reserve Bank of Malawi, is conducting a 20-day awareness campaign in Chiradzulu, running until February 7, 2025.

The initiative aims to reach all rural populations, with a special focus on women, youth, and people living with disabilities.