LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The two telecommunication network providers Airtel and TNM alongside Malawi Central Bank, Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 announced completely removal of user fees and charges on person to person transfers on the same network.
This means money transfers through both Airtel money and Mpamba is free.
This also apply to any electronic payments via mobile money transfers.
The companies have also reduced user fees and charges on person transfers across their respective network from MK120.00 to MK20.00 that will be accrue to Natswitch.
However, any mobile cash withdraws from both Airtel Money and Mpamba agents charges remain the same.
RBM Governor Dr. Dalitso Kabambe told the news conference on Tuesday in the capital Lilongwe that measure is effective midnight, April 22, 2020 for the next three months.
Dr. Kabambe said the measure to reduce cash usages amid Covid-19 scare.
The Governor assured the nation that will monitor on any measure put across during the pandemic period.
“This is the move to reduce cash usages which might be also a loop for contracting the virus. The bank will therefore monitor if the operators are implementing the measures.
“The bank has also revised upwards daily transaction and account balance limits on non-bank mobile services, to be communicated to customers by individual mobile operators”, says Dr. Kabambe.
However, both Airtel and TNM were non-committal to further reducing of credit data and calling rate.
Airtel Malawi Managing Director Charles Kamoto argued that free data usage and calling rate will compromise the network quality.
Kamoto added that such measure could not be done in haste but rather with comprehensive special approach “to avoid network collapse”.
His counterpart, Michiel Buitelaar, Telecom Network Malawi (TNM) plc’ Chief Executive Director observed that “as much as their customer will wish for further reduction on credit data or calling rates, but network capacity could not handle that”
